How do massages and acupuncture work together to improve your health?
Massage and acupuncture have both proven to be very effective for treating multiple ailments. They’re known for releasing tension, relieving pain, and giving people a general feeling of calm and relaxation. Just to name a few, of course.
Since our facility is equipped to handle both massages and acupuncture, many people wonder if they can actually go hand-in-hand. Can a patient combine these two treatments into one session or use them individually over a short period of time?
Today, we’re going to discuss these questions. But, first, let’s take a quick look at the benefits of each type of treatment.
Common Benefits of Massages
Massages have been one of the most popular and celebrated forms of relaxation for centuries. People from all walks of life have used them for everything from injury treatment to part of a spa day.
Here are some of the most common benefits of getting a massage:
- Relieves or Manages Pain — Just a single massage session will show improvement with pain. Continuous treatment can help you manage chronic pain as well.
- Improves Mental Health — Even someone who’s never had a professional massage before already knows that they’re relaxing. The calm state can reduce stress and improve mental clarity.
- Improves Sleep Quality — Getting quality sleep is a problem for millions of people. The relaxation that comes with a massage will help you sleep better and longer.
- Supports Immune and Digestive Systems — Massage goes far beyond relaxation and pain relief. The release of endorphins, the loosening of tight muscles, and other effects can help your immune and digestive systems.
- Relieves Arthritis and Osteoarthritis — Arthritis and osteoarthritis cause a great deal of pain, sometimes debilitating. Massage therapy has proven very effective in relieving the severity of these ailments.
Common Benefits of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that’s been around for thousands of years. It involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific body points meant to target and treat various ailments.
Here are just some of the many benefits of acupuncture:
- Pain Relief — Not only is acupuncture a painless procedure, but it’s also very effective against pain. This could be pain from a recent sports injury or chronic pain that’s been with you for years.
- Increases Flexibility — Acupuncture is well known for its ability to loosen you up. This results in an increase in flexibility and range of motion.
- Better Sense of Well-Being — With the extreme relaxation involved with acupuncture, you’ll get a better sense of your well-being. Even a single session can help you release some of the emotion that you’ve been holding in as well.
- Decreases Recovery Time — Patients who have been injured typically want to restart their sports or other activities as soon as possible. Acupuncture is effective in reducing recovery time to help make this happen.
- Reduces Muscle Tension and Spasms — Reducing tension and spasms in your muscles is a common reason for acupuncture. This helps improve your flexibility while ridding yourself of pain.
- Improves Sleep Quality — Like massage, acupuncture has a calming effect that will improve your sleep quality. The effects are very often immediate, so you may find yourself resting better after a single session.
When to Use Massage Vs. Acupuncture
Massage and acupuncture are different forms of treatment, but they do share enough similarities that allow them to be used together. As a general rule, though, acupuncture is very often used for pain that’s connected to your body’s nerves, while massage targets muscular and soft tissue injuries. That being said, they’re often used interchangeably for similar issues. A professional will be able to ascertain which is better for your specific situation.
When to Combine Massage and Acupuncture
So, do massage and acupuncture go hand in hand? Can you combine them? The answer is yes and no. While it’s true that you could go back and forth between these two types of treatment, you don’t want to do both of them in the same session.
This is because massage therapy could stimulate the needles if acupuncture was done just minutes later. However, if you complete a massage session and then wait a short period of time (perhaps one or two days) and then have acupuncture done, this can enhance the effects of both treatments.
Contact East West Healing Solutions for Massage and Acupuncture
East West Healing Solutions offers a variety of health treatments, including massage and acupuncture in Palm Harbor and the surrounding areas. If you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule an appointment, call our staff at (727) 216-3972 today.
