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Step 1
Schedule an appointment with an acupuncturist. It is important to see a professional to learn the proper way for performing acupuncture before you begin. Check your local phone book or search on the Internet for an acupuncturist in your area.
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Step 2
Choose an acupuncturist that encourages self acupuncture as part of his treatment method. You will need an acupuncturist who is willing to teach you the methods and supply you with the needles. This is now common practice at many traditional Chinese medical clinics in the United States.
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Step 3
Familiarize yourself with acupuncture so you know what to expect before your first appointment. Acupuncture can be uncomfortable and scary if you have never done it before, but it is not usually a painful treatment.
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Step 4
Lean how to perform self acupuncture properly by practicing in your acupuncturists office. She will be able to teach you proper placement of the needles based on your individual needs.
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Step 5
Sterilize your needles in boiling water before each use. Using dirty or unsterilized needles for acupuncture can cause infection. You should wear plastic gloves when handling the needles after they have been sterilized.
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Step 6
Consider combining an herbal treatment with your acupuncture. Most acupuncturists will recommend Chinese herbal remedies be used in addition to acupuncture depending on your particular needs.
Comments
herkymur said
on 10/26/2009 I have a friend who does his own self-acupuncture and loves it. Of course you won't condone this because if everyone did it you wouldn't have a job. It's not brain surgery and what negative effects can it have? Not be effective? That's about it. Using your common sense and using new needles every time seems to be the key. I'm always open to other opinions, but that's mine. :)
jandy82 said
on 4/15/2009 I think recommending self acupuncture is a very bad idea. I am a licensed Acupuncturist and there is a reason the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine requires four years of training in order to even qualify for licensure- because you cannot safely teach a patient how to do it in a few minutes. In most states this is strictly regulated as it should be. I do not know any other Acupuncturist that would teach self acupuncture or supply a patient with needles. I find that to be extremely unethical and in most states completely illegal. And suggesting that someone can boil needles to sterilize them is just not true. Acupuncture needles are made to be disposed of after only one use and to imply that you can use them more than once is both unhealthy and potentially dangerous (imagine breaking off an already hair thin needle under your skin and having to get it
UrbanVegan said
on 12/10/2008 State laws regulate who can charge money for what, they don't say what you can and can't do with tiny sterile needles and your own body! That would be really scary (if they did start regulating things like that).
royce83 said
on 9/29/2008 In "your state". More like in your "state of mind". Unless you are paralized and are unable to use your arms, then there is no reason why you cannot acquire the proper knowledge of how to safely and successfully administer self-acupuncture. As for self-prescribing drugs, any prescription drug is a bad choice(anything non-herbal or homeopathic.) You should help yourself out by taking a few proactive steps to treating yourself instead of relying on others, and letting opinions put fear or doubt in you.
Laurachr said
on 1/27/2008 In my state, acupuncture may only be provided by a licensed professional. This article is suggesting that a person break the law. Additionally, performing self acupuncture might not be as effective as having it done by a professional. I would liken this to self-prescribing drugs, which is often a bad choice.