Month completed: January 2009

As suggested by several people, I made sure that some time in January I found the time to get acupuncture. Last Saturday was that day.

Because it was the first session, the first 20 minutes were spent doing an assessment of my health. This involved looking at my tongue, and asking me to describe the current state of my number 2’s (among other things).

The diagnosis was that I needed some stress relief and that I had an on-going cold – both true.

I then got to lie down on the bed, and while listening to the nice relaxing background music, the needles started to go in.

Because there wasn’t too much wrong with me (and it was only the first session), I had only seven needles put in (one in the head, one in each arm, and two in each leg). Most gave a bit of pain or a weird sensation when they went in (apparently this is good, said the acupuncturist, as this means that she found my Chi).

This photo isn’t much good, unless you get the magnifying glasses out to see the needles. You might be able to spot the one near the base of my right leg.

While the needles stayed in for the next half an hour, she gave me a neck and shoulder massage, which was nice.

As the session finished, and she took the needles out, she mentioned that I may experience a sensation that the needles are still stuck in, for the next few hours. But this is normal, so don’t get concerned.

So as I started to get ready to leave, and I felt this feeling in one of my legs, I thought nothing of it.

Until I noticed that she had left one of the needles in!

She blamed having to take photos with throwing her rhythm out – not that I was too concerned – I almost got a free gift to take away with me.

So – my verdict on acupuncture.

For stress relief it worked. I was left in a great state of calm and care-free for hours after the session, and it did feel like it  had temporarily lifted a weight off my shoulders.

For curing a cold, it didn’t do much, but it was only the first session, and the fact that London is experiencing the heaviest snowfall for 18 years probably doesn’t help with that.

Will I go back?

Yes. The next time I am stressed.