Helix Clinic blog

One of the best ways to get the most out of your acupuncture treatment is to allow your mind to switch off while you are on the couch so that your body can start to heal itself unhampered by the thinking mind.

A time-honoured method for this is to give your mind something to focus on to stop you thinking random thoughts, and if you focus on your breathing you will naturally start to shift out of the mind and into the body.

Physiologically, it is impossible to be in a state of stress when you are breathing deeply. So by allowing your breathing to become a little bit slower and a little bit deeper, you will start to change your body’s state to one of relaxation and calm. As you breathe deep down into the belly and stay focused on your breath,  gradually you will slip into a state somewhere between waking and sleep where your body can truly relax.

We always recommend that in between treatments, you should try to find 5 minutes each day to do some deep breathing like this. Regularity is more important that quantity - 5 minutes daily is preferable to 60 minutes once a week. Also, the more that you practice deep breathing, the easier it is to get to a relaxed state the next time you try. So the next time you come in for treatment you will be able to go even deeper into relaxation.

Why not give it a try? It’s an amazingly simple yet powerful technique to promote calm and relaxation in your life.

Tags: breathing

Cupping is a traditional therapy that acupuncturists often use in conjunction with needles. It involves placing suction cups on the skin to help relieve tension, and is often used to help release tight back muscles.

Tight upper back and shoulder muscles are often caused by a combination of bad posture at work and general stress, and cupping is a great and quick way to help clear the tension.

If you have never had cupping before, it can feel a little strange the first time the cups are put on. The sensation should be tight but not painful.  The traditional method of cupping involved burning the oxygen from the inside of a glass cup with a flame before quickly placing it on the skin, but nowadays plastic pump action cups are often easier to use.

Cupping works by improving the circulation of blood and fluids in the immediate area. This can then help to soften tight muscles or release any points of tension or tight connective tissue.  Sometimes the results are very quick, with relief being felt almost straight away. The only down-side to cupping is that it can leave a mark on the skin for anything between a few hours and a few days.

Overall though, it can be a great treatment and the results often outweigh the temporary cosmetic marks.

Tags: back pain, cupping