The Art of Acupuncture

Ancient Healing for Modern Living
How Accupunture Works
Introduction

Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio takes pride in providing acupuncture services, one of the oldest medical treatment therapies in history. The earliest recorded manuscripts and evidence of acupuncture meridians originated in China and date back to more than 2,500 years ago. However, it is believed to have been practiced for more than 4,000 years.

When you have a session with our acupuncturist, they will select from over 360 acupuncture points along your body’s meridian systems, effectively redirecting Qi’s flow to support organ systems, remove blockages, and restore harmony.

With so many points to choose from, no two acupuncturists will select the same points to address the same symptoms or disease. No two individuals with the same symptoms or disease will have the same internal conditions. Our services here at Work in Progress Acupuncture Studio provide an individualized perspective and approach that genuinely makes the practice of acupuncture an art form based on skill, intuition, and theory.

Does it hurt?

Your scheduled session with our acupuncturist involves the insertion of very fine, sterile, disposable filiform needles into your skin. Needles are typically thinner than a strand of hair, and most patients report mild to no discomfort or pain upon insertion. Even children and pets can be needled safely, with most unaware when the needle is inserted.

Once the needles have been placed, the patient is left alone with the scent of therapeutic essential oils and an immersive, meditative soundscape – most find the experience relaxing and take the opportunity to rest and recharge on our treatment table!

How many treatments will I need?

Just like working out, for chronic conditions we understand it’s important to maintain a regular schedule to create healing momentum and to encourage the body to function on its own for long-term changes. When patients have sessions at our acupuncturist clinic, the effects of acupuncture are cumulative, which means that the impact of each treatment builds progress toward recovery. Skipping treatments may hinder results and lead to slower progress. Once desired results are obtained, treatments can be reduced to a maintenance schedule.

For those wondering “Where do I find an acupuncturist near me?” or for individuals generally thinking “Where can I find acupuncturists near me?” As traditional acupuncturists, we are experienced in understanding the right spots to alleviate pain, regardless of where it may emanate from. Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio is your premier destination to begin your path to pain-free living.

Our services include your practitioner creating a treatment plan based on the severity of your condition. However, general guidelines to expect are as follows:

1x per weekMild issues or pain, Wellness & Prevention

2x per weekModerate issues or pain, Acute or Chronic conditions

3x per weekModerate to Severe issues or pain resulting in functional loss affecting daily activities

DailySevere pain resulting in functional loss affecting daily activities, Acute conditions

The Biomedical Explanation

Acupuncture Mechanism of Action

Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio has a unique understanding of the human body as a premier treatment center. We view it as an electromagnetic field, generating electric potentials and currents to conduct impulses along nerve fibers, regulate body tissues and organ functions, govern metabolism, and many other processes within the body. In Western terms, this concept is known as bioelectricity. In Eastern medicine, this vital life force energy concept is known as Qi.

Acupuncture has been used for over 2,500 years. Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio provides acupuncture sessions as a trusted holistic health treatment option for patients seeking an alternative medicine option that rewires and redirects the bioelectric circuitry of the body to regulate homeostasis and stimulate biological responses. We believe the acupuncture needle serves to create a micro-trauma locally, setting off the body’s immune and anti-inflammatory responses and encouraging the body to heal itself.

Our Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio experts know all of the acupuncture points located along nerve pathways in areas with a higher concentration of nerves, vessels, and neuromuscular attachments. And 80% of motor points (where the nerve innervates muscle) are major acupuncture points!

Medical Dummy

What happens when an acupuncture needle is inserted?

When a patient has a session at Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio, needle insertion creates stimulation of sensory neurons affecting the connective tissue. Signals then travel to the brain and spinal cord, affecting the Central & Peripheral Nervous Systems. From there, a cascade of signals is activated, stimulating the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, which have a systemic effect on regulating the Endocrine, Immune, Cardiovascular and Digestive Systems.

Various acupuncture points can be selected to affect these systems. For example, Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio knows the history of acupuncture being used to regulate blood pressure by stimulating the release of vasodilators. Serotonin and noradrenalin can be stimulated to treat anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Sleep and stress disorders may be addressed by regulating the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic “fight or flight” response by decreasing cortisol levels in the body.

Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio provides acupuncture for an extensive list of health concerns. We know the power of acupuncture can benefit people suffering from different conditions while using it as a form of pain management and internal medicine for people of all ages. If you wonder, where can I get acupuncture treatment near me? You may be interested in visiting either of our two locations, including Midtown East NYC and Midtown West NYC. Visit our contact page for address details.

Our service providers have studied the medical evidence behind acupuncture. We understand that functional MRIs show evidence that specific points such as LI4, located on the hand, stimulate particular areas of the brain and effectively shut off pain receptors, thereby affecting the “fight or flight” response. Similarly, GB37, a point on the leg known in Chinese medicine as the empirical point for the eye, has been shown in functional MRIs to affect the area of the brain controlling optic function. BL67 on the pinky toe, often used to turn a breached baby and stimulate uterine contractions, is associated with the S1 dermatome (supplied by the spinal nerve at S1), located directly behind the uterus.

Acupuncture services provided by Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio can treat different types of pain relief, a treatment option commonly sought after by pain sufferers. Post-surgically and for trauma or wound healing, acupuncture increases blood flow to the area, reducing inflammation and swelling to accelerate healing by removing obstructions and allowing WBC and other healing agents to reach the site more quickly and effectively. Our services are based on studies that show how stimulation with an acupuncture needle releases opioid peptides and endorphins to produce an analgesic effect. Our acupuncture clinic provides services founded on this evidence. Acupuncture is now recommended by the CDC and Joint Commission in the wake of the current opioid crisis for natural pain relief over opioid medications. The American College of Physicians also recommends it as the first line of defense for low back pain.

Common alternative medicine applications for acupuncture

The stimulation of sensory neurons caused by acupuncture procedures can relieve a range of pains, diseases, and conditions, depending on the points selected by the acupuncturist. These are just a few of the most common applications for acupuncture:

  • Physical pains, including neck, back, dental, and joint
  • Headaches, including migraines and tension headaches
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Labor pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy

Visiting an acupuncturist clinic can be an effective way to mitigate your pain. At Work In Progress Acupuncture alternative medicine treatment center, we are experts in identifying the acupuncture points that can relieve your specific pain patterns. We’ll design a personalized treatment plan to meet your individual needs. Request an appointment today, and feel better tomorrow.

Visit Work In Progress Acupuncture Studio in NYC, or search for “acupuncture treatment near me” if you reside elsewhere. 

Are you ready to see what acupuncture can do for you? Request an appointment to begin your therapeutic journey toward natural relief today!