Courtesy of Acupuncture Points.us

Madison Makepeace has been doing acupuncture for 17 years. Her best friend, Signe Barlow, tried it for the first time this week. The process of sticking filiform needles into various body parts can sound daunting and uncomfortable to most people. But the Cowgirls wanted to find out the truth, so we talked to these two daring darlings about their experiences and what it’s like getting acupuncture done in Toronto.

Pony: Why did you start acupuncture? To relieve pain or to help relax you?

Madison: My mom brought me to my first acupuncture treatment at age 5 because of a Kidney problem. She believes in holistic medicine, Chinese medicine, and alternative treatments and thought it would be good to introduce me to it at a young age. I’ve had acupuncture done for many reasons. It’s great if you have a specific problem you’re looking to fix (i.e: a cold, the flu, bad back), however many people go to have an immune boost, maintain good health or simply to feel relaxed. The reasons that people go for acupuncture are endless. I go for my Kidneys and I swear by the treatments.

Pony: How has acupuncture helped your kidney problems?

Madison: It’s kept me out of the hospital on many occasions. My kidney condition weakens my immune system which contributes to catching anything and everything I come in contact with. So whether I’m going to have something specific worked on or just to boost my immune system, it works wonders.

Pony: Is it painful to have done? The thought of needles can be terrifying to some people.

Madison: The place that I go for treatments specializes in both acupuncture and massage. They have two different sized needles that they use depending on the health problem at hand and the comfort of the patient. A technician will check your pulse, look at your tongue (they can tell a lot by the colour of your tongue), then lay you down on the massage table. They insert these needles into the problem areas and adjust them until they reach the necessary pressure points or muscles. If you are tense or sensitive from being sick, the needles can cause mild discomfort. However, for the most part they are so thin and delicate that I don’t even know they’re in. They then place a heat lamp above the table which allows the needles to heat up, intensifying the penetration into the pressure points. This is followed by a massage on the areas of the body that do not require needles, and after 20 minutes, they target the areas that do.

Signe: The needles themselves weren’t painful at all – I only felt some slight pinching when they were tapped in, and otherwise just some slight pressure. Beyond treating my back pain, they also treated my kidneys, and general stress or insomnia. I think acupuncture can be advantageous for anyone – those with chronic conditions as well as those seeking to feel better generally. The goal is one of optimum wellness and prevention though, not necessarily immediate relaxation, such as a spa treatment or massage.

Courtesy of Signe Barlow

Pony: Was there anything unexpected about your first experience?

Signe: I was thoroughly briefed beforehand, so I knew what was going to happen. Had I not been, I suppose I would have been surprised by the holistic approach to my appointment. They took my pulse and looked at my tongue, then gave me some tea and pills to take, as well as some Chinese herbs to take home. That approach and level of care isn’t something I’m accustomed to with Western medical treatments. The sensation of the needles themselves was also something new and unexpected, I really had no idea what it was going to feel like.

Pony: Some people believe it’s nothing but a placebo effect. What’s your response to that?

Madison: I think Eastern medicine has always been somewhat of a controversial subject, and with every new treatment and every new type of medicine, some will be skeptical. I personally believe, however, that acupuncture has been a huge contributor to my increasingly good health and has saved me on more than one occasion.  I’d also recommend acupuncture simply because of how relaxed and rejuvenated you feel afterward. With regards to it being a placebo affect, I think that having a positive attitude regardless of your medicinal methods is helpful in the road to recovery.

Pony: How often do you have to go? And how long is one appointment normally?

Madison: They evaluate each person on a case-by-case basis, some people with more severe injuries or illnesses will be asked to return many times as the healing process is a longer one for certain people. Each appointment is usually one hour.

Pony: Do you believe in any other Eastern medical practices?

Signe: Very much so. Eastern medicine treats the body as a whole, whereas Western medicine tends to treat only specific ailments. Obviously I think there is much to be gained from science, so a combination of the two methods seems to be the most logical approach. To me, Western medicine focuses on the quick-fix, treating symptoms rather than causes, and is reluctant to draw attention to our role in the prevention of illness, let alone achievement of optimum health. We need to take responsibility for our bodies and recognize the connection between nutrition/lifestyle and disease. I’ve read many books on the subject, but one that changed my world was The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. I still have much to learn about Eastern practices, but the philosophy that underlies them makes a great deal of sense to me. I think it is only logical to treat the body as a complete system, including a mind-body connection, and so I believe there is great power in practices such as yoga and meditation, as well as naturopathy and nutritional counseling.

Pony: What acupuncture clinics do you recommend in Toronto?

Madison: The acupuncture treatment centre that I’ve been going to for 17 years is called Xiaolan Health Centre. It’s located on Prince Arthur and is their newest location. The centre has a spa-like feel which makes the whole experience start to finish that much more enjoyable. I strongly recommend giving this place a try.

Pony: And Signe, after your first experience will you be going there again?

Signe: I’m going back next week! Acupuncture isn’t a one-time fix, it works over a series of treatments. You hardly feel the needles and you don’t exactly have to watch them go in. I hope to make it a regular part of my lifestyle and highly recommend it to others.

Courtesy of iStock Photos

XoXo
– The Cowgirls.