Acupuncture is the insertion of thin needles at specific points along the body. It aims to change the flow of energy through the body — or, as more modern understanding goes, modify the activity along neural pathways to alleviate pain and other ailments. Contrary to popular belief, however, not every acupuncture session has to look exactly the same. There are some variations that can be made. Talk to your acupuncturist about these variations of treatment, and see whether they're right for you.

Acupressure

Acupressure is actually a treatment very similar to acupuncture. Instead of inserting needles into the body, acupressure practitioners use their fingers to apply external pressure in those areas. Sometimes, acupuncturists can combine acupressure with acupuncture in order to treat areas that may be too sensitive or shallow-skinned for needles. If you're not comfortable with needles being inserted into your skin, a full acupressure session may be a good alternative. Not all acupuncture technicians offer acupressure, but if yours does not, they should be able to refer you to someone who does.

Auricular Acupuncture

The term "auricular" refers to the ears. This is a style of acupuncture that calls for the placement of needles in the ears, specifically. It is not only intended to treat ear-related ailments. Rather, it is believed that stimulating specific spots on the ears can help heal specific parts of the body. For example, there may be a part of the ear where you can insert a needle to treat nausea and another part of the ear where a needle would manage jaw pain. Auricular acupuncture is sometimes also used to manage drug addiction and other addictive behaviors. It's a variation worth asking your practitioner about since many acupuncturists do offer it.

Korean Acupuncture

Most acupuncture has arisen out of traditional Chinese medicine. However, Korean healers have also developed acupuncture treatments over the years. This style of acupuncture calls for a different type of needle, which is made from copper. Korean acupuncture also calls for the use of many more needles than Chinese acupuncture. This variation may be good to consider if you're getting some relief from traditional acupuncture but would like more. The increase in intensity can benefit a lot of patients.

Acupuncture includes a vast array of treatment protocols. If you would like to get more out of your treatment, talk with your practitioner about the various options listed above. They may be even more beneficial for you.

To learn more, contact a center near you that offers acupuncture treatment, such as Acupuncture Medical Center.