Fancy trying an alternative treatment for your ailments? I have tried fine needle pricks to finally clear my sinuses of mucus. This is my acupuncture experience!
My sinuses have been tormenting me for almost three months. More precisely, since my Corona infection. I constantly have the feeling that I can't breathe deeply.
This is especially noticeable during sports. When I'm ski touring, I snort like a walrus, and even normal training is anything but easy for me. I always have to take long breaks and breathe through my mouth. Even during fast walks I quickly start to reach my limits.
After various home remedies, expectorant drops, inhalations and masses of tea, there has unfortunately been no improvement. By the way, if you're also struggling with clogged sinuses, check out the best home remedies here: "How to clear the sinuses„.
I have tried everything, for me it is clear: I need another solution.
I heard about acupuncture from a friend. Research shows that a doctor near me offers just that. That sounds like a good plan. It's worth a try - I'm starting my acupuncture experience with that attitude.
I'll report back today on whether it helped me, how it feels to have the needles placed, and what you need to watch out for. But first let's look at some general info.
Table of contents
What is acupuncture and where does it come from?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese healing method. It involves placing very thin needles at specific points. They are much thinner than needles from injections - so don't worry. Depending on the region of the body, particularly fine needles are used - for example, for the ear.
Already 3000 years ago this alternative pain method was discovered in China. In the twentieth century acupuncture spread to Europe, where today it is used by many doctors as a complement to classical medicine.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the body is flowed through by the life energy Qi. It flows in channels (meridians) and can be reached at about 700 points in the body close to the surface of the skin. 400 of these points are used as acupuncture points.
During acupuncture, the blockages in the flow of qi are removed and the patient feels an improvement in symptoms. By the way, the same phenomenon is relied on when you get a migraine piercing - here a meridian in the ear is pierced. You can read more about it here: "My test: Does a migraine piercing really help?“
How does it work?
Exactly what happens in the body during acupuncture treatment has not yet been fully clarified. However, studies suggest that the needle pricks trigger the release of pain-relieving and mood-lifting substances in the brain. These include above all the happiness hormones serotonin and endorphins.
Depending on the disease, the needles are pricked at selected points in the body. The extra thin needles are placed on the meridians, where they can develop their effect.
During the acupuncture treatment one should keep calm. So, if it is possible, one will lie on the stomach, back or sideways during the session. If this is not possible, then one sits. It is important to relax halfway during this time.
Resting after acupuncture is not necessary in most cases. Nevertheless, the doctor recommended that I take it easy now. So slowly sit up and get out of bed. After that, you can go back to work normally.
When can the treatment with needles help?
In studies it could be proven with which problems an acupuncture experience can help. Certain types of pain and discomfort are said to be particularly well treated with it. These include:
- Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
- Facilitation of the birth
- Back pain
- Headache and migraine
- Tension
- Hay fever
- Menstrual pain
- Allergic asthma
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders
The best way to find out is to go directly to a doctor in your area and ask about the offer. My doctor also offers treatments for joint problems, spine problems, bronchitis, sinusitis, witchcraft, tonsillitis and much more.
You can watch a great video here:
How long does it take for acupuncture to work?
It depends on the type and intensity of the complaints. Usually, an improvement in discomfort occurs after 5 to 10 acupuncture sessions. Patients often report feeling the first change after the first session. However, how long it takes for acupuncture to take effect also depends greatly on personal conditions. One session lasts 20 to 30 minutes.
How many times a week should you do acupuncture?
The prescribed sessions are divided so that one has two sessions per week. Depending on the severity of the treatment, up to 15 acupunctures may be necessary.
For my sinuses, the doctor first recommended 5 units of 20 minutes each. And then she clarifies whether further units are necessary. She pokes me with the needles every Monday and Thursday.
How do you feel during and after?
The insertion may be painful, afterwards the pain turns into a slight pulling, tingling or a feeling of warmth. The needles themselves are not felt during the treatment itself in most cases.
Most patients report that relaxation sets in immediately in many cases. Resting while lying down is therefore found particularly pleasant by many.
My acupuncture experience - this is how it really works
Acupuncture is supposed to help me against my eternally clogged sinuses and calm my dust mite allergy. So there I sit in the waiting room wondering: will it hurt? Will it help? How long will it take? I want to tell you all about that now.
Does acupuncture hurt?
In total, 18 to 20 needles are placed on me - I can't say that exactly. The needles are distributed over the entire body - from the neck and upper back, above the décolleté to the fingers and shins.
The pain differs greatly depending on the body region and the needle. The first needle goes into the neck and doesn't hurt at all, the second one is placed only 2 cm away from it and stings a lot. "Oh, someone is tense," the doctor says to me. And she's right: I really am very tense in my neck.
When all the needles are in place, I have to lie back. My look probably says it all. Before I can even say anything in response, the doctor says, "Everyone looks at me incredulously when I ask them to lie back after the needles are placed. But believe me, it's not a problem."
The needles are placed on the neck in such a way that they fit closely to the body. So leaning back slowly and lying still is no problem. The only thing you shouldn't do is move around too much.
Now it's time to wait
I get a fluffy blanket so that I don't get cold. From the tips of my toes to my neck I'm covered and I'm supposed to relax.
She turns off the light, turns on a small lamp and leaves the room.
Here I am, hoping that my acupuncture experience will be a good one. I am curious if I will feel a difference already after the first session.
Can you feel the needles?
Yes, I can actually feel them, some more intensely, some not at all. I feel the one needle on my forehead the most. It hurt quite a bit when I stuck it and then it started pulsing. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I can feel the needle working.
After half the time, the "pain" slips a little deeper. Namely, to the needle on my right nostril. The first time I felt nothing at all here, but now it begins to pulsate here as well. I no longer feel the needle on my forehead.
The doctor has placed four needles in and along my ear, which I feel properly throughout the entire waiting time. It pulls, pinches and is unpleasant - later the doctor will explain to me that the needles in the ear are those that are placed against the allergy.
Towards the end of the 20 minutes, my toes get cold. I want to adjust the blanket a bit with my toes. Not a good idea. A cramp of gigantic proportions suddenly runs through the entire muscle at the side of my shin.
I try to relax and breathe calmly, but the muscle spasms, like crazy.
Breathe deeply, let it go. The cramp gets a little better and luckily the doctor comes into the room at that moment. I tell her about it and she releases me from the needle.
At the same moment, the cramp is completely over. Uncanny.
How does it feel to remove the needles?
I hardly feel the pulling of the acupuncture needles at all. A short prick in the places that were also felt when the needles were placed and that's all. A small red spot remains, but it disappears after a few hours.
After two days, there is no sign that I have had my first acupuncture experience today.
How do I feel after the first acupuncture?
I have now been lying on my back for 20 minutes, trying to relax. I succeeded more or less well. I think about all sorts of things, hear patients leaving the practice, the assistant on the phone, and cars driving by outside.
I have a very hard time relaxing - always, even when it's very quiet. It's very difficult for me to switch off my head. For the second appointment, I plan to have my smartphone close by and listen to relaxation music.
Headphones are not possible because of the needles, but that should not be a problem. After all, I am alone in the room.
However, I get through the first unit without music, because standing up is not possible when the needles are set.
After the needles are pulled, I get dressed and leave the office.
"And how was it?" a friend asks me. And to be honest, I don't really know. I'll just have to wait and see.
24 hours after the first acupuncture experience
Those who are quickly disgusted should not read on now!
And then something totally exciting happens. A little more than a day after the first acupuncture, my throat starts to itch.
I have to cough. And when I lay my head back, I have the feeling that some of the mucus is running down my throat.
I sit up and my nose is running. I have to reach for a handkerchief. I haven't had that for two months. Not much is happening, but I can see that it is yellow, old mucus.
So I didn't imagine it, I think to myself.
I am curious to see what happens after the second appointment. My next acupuncture experience is coming up in 3 days. I have a total of 5 appointments, always 3 to 4 days apart.
What has happened after the fifth appointment?
I'll spare you the many details of the individual appointments. In the end, it is all about what has happened after the fifth acupuncture experience. Nevertheless, I would like to dedicate a few lines to the appointments.
At the second appointment, she does not stick the needles in the same places. Some points remain similar, others are completely new. Only the ear is the same, as far as I can tell at least. At the second appointment, I pull out my phone and take the photos you see in this post.
On the other dates, I try to consciously relax and put on a meditation playlist on Spotify. It's much more pleasant and makes me feel a little calmer.
Putting the head back and lying still quickly shows that something is happening with the mucus. I have the feeling that it runs from one side to the other. By the way, I never had this feeling before acupuncture.
While I still found the pricking of the needles unpleasant during the first two appointments, it is now becoming much more pleasant. I can still feel the prick clearly in some places, but the pulsating feeling has improved. It feels kind of warm now.
And at the end of the treatment? I have made very great progress. Every 24 hours after the sessions, my body starts responding very strongly. My nose runs easily, I have to cough and my body tries to get rid of the mucus.
Supportively, I start with nasal douches to give the stubborn mucus an extra push. I also make sure to drink a lot. Otherwise, however, I do nothing differently than normal.
I am not yet completely free of mucus, but the difference is enormous. I will now first observe a week and should the mucus then still hold, I insert a few more units.
The nasal douche in a self-test - it really can!
My conclusion
My acupuncture experience is entirely positive. Already after the first appointment, I was able to do something I haven't been able to do in ages: blow my nose. The mucus actually started to loosen up a bit after the first session. I didn't notice a big difference in my breathing after the first session, but it got much better from appointment to appointment.
If you are unsure, consult a doctor. In my case, the health insurance even covered the first five treatments - sometimes it is also partially covered by insurance.
It's worth a try! I am glad to have taken the step. All the best for you!
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