.When it comes to pain and restrictions in movement, acupuncture has a reputation for how it can bring relief and sometimes even resolution to an issue:       

• Mechanical things like frozen shoulder, kinks in the neck, arthritic pain
• Systemic issues like migraines, neuralgia, fibromyalgia
• Surgical rehabiliation for pain and mobility, as well as scar pain
• Referred body pains, Phantom limb pain
• ‘Unexplained’ pain, the allopathic mystery that often acupuncture theory can understand

If you look up acupuncture and pain/mobility, you’ll learn about its role in the physiological pain response: endorphin release, nerve signalling, promoting blood flow, and benefitting healthy inflammation. Did you know that acupuncture also treats physical issues that have emotional roots, like symptoms that begin after difficult life events, or when issues feel worse with stress? It does.

In neuroscience, emotional pain and physical pain are experienced by the same part of the brain– which I will discuss in my eventual post on the bio-emotive body and brain.

Similar to scientific findings of the recent century, ancient Chinese Medicine philosophy views that both physical and emotional issues arise from a common landscape of energetic behavior. 

The medicinal philosophy behind the entire system is to maintain wellbeing, which naturally results in preventing experiences, and the conditions that cause pain or movement challenges. The principles are fundamental to stamina, resilience, and generally feeling good.

The origins of Chinese Medicine formed from observing the natural surroundings– watching the levels and the movement of waterways, the interrelationships of every part of the landscape, as well as noticing the effects of temperature. For example, with warmth, things flourished, but if too warm they dried out, and with coldness, energy went deeper in, and flow slowed or froze causing tightness in the land and water sources.
People paid attention to how life energy thrived or suffered, and designed their own lives as a reflection of what they learned so as to cultivate and maintain vital harmony.

There is a phrase in one of the foundational Chinese texts, the Huang Di Nei Jing, that says: ​

Why You Should Add Acupuncture to Your Pre- and Post-Surgery Care
By Dr. Jen Jorgensen, R.Ac., Dr.TCM

If you are having surgery, or have already had surgery, acupuncture supports you physically and mentally-emotionally in preparing and recovering.  Even years after having a procedure, it is valuable in restoring and regulating energy flow where the procedure occurred. Below are some ways acupuncture supports you throughout the experience.

In my practice, I sometimes combine EFT, Emotion Freedom Technique tapping, to prepare you mentally and emotionally leading up to the procedure. EFT can also benefit healing, pain, and mental-emotional recovery.

Guideline for when to treat:
Pre-surgery: the sooner the better!
Post-surgery: 
    minor procedures: wait 3-5 days; should be distal to the surgical site
​    major surgery: wait 1-2 weeks; advised to get clearance from your doctor

Pre-Operative Benefits of  Acupuncture:

• Regulates the nervous system to support the body in being in an optimal, easeful state
• ​Emotional support: there may be anxiety, scaredness, shock, disappointment, anger, grief. Acupuncture, as well as Bodymind Acupressure®, can facilitate the nervous system in processing emotions, and regulate or restore channel flow. 
• Benefits sleep​
• Optimizes physical health: acupuncture regulates how energy is circulating and supports energy flow to organ systems
• Benefits how the body adapts and responds to temporary changes, including how your system manages anaesthesia/sedation, and other substances
• Benefits the nourishment and energy flow in the area where incisions will occur.

Post-Operative Care:

• Supports internal pathways flow both deeply and superfically, where incisions might have interrupted energy circulation
• Encourages blood flow and nutrients to the systems, or physical area of the procedure
• Benefits healing and repair that is deep within the body, without needling deeply
• Treats post-experience nervous system needs; supports release in areas where the body may be holding
• Benefits positive inflammatory response, reduces swelling
• Relieves post-operative pain, nausea, sleep, slow healing
• Support healthy scar tissue; reduces the potential for adhesions, scar pain, raised scars, and discolorations
• Supports lymphatic circulation to reduce congestion and swelling
• Support mental and emotional effects that the surgery may have, including the potential for PTSD. 

Scar and Incision Care:

• The incision must be fully closed and healed before treatment can begin.
• Improves nerve response near the incision
• Benefits healthy scar formation, reducing and eliminating tightness and pain
• Supports the formation of flat, color-blended healing, treating redness, purple coloration, and pale tones
• Acupuncture surrounds the incision and should not be done into the incision scar itself

The Takeaway:

Acupuncture care treats you as a whole person, emotionally and physically, respecting your needs to feel safe and supported. It is a wholistic means of physically readying the body. Because of its regulatory effect of good energy. blood, and nutrient-waste flow, acupuncture care supports optimal recovery, reduces uncomfortable post surgical effects.