Human Pin Cusion

For some, even the thought of needles drains the blood from your head.

But if you can pick yourself up off the floor after fainting and get over that fear,

acupuncture is totally worth every little pin prick.

And that's the most you will feel.

A little prick.

Most of the time you do not feel a thing.

Going into todays appointment, I already had a general knowledge of what
acupuncture entailed; common pressure points she may use, focusing of chi,
calming ones mind, etc.

But what I experienced was on a whole different level.

My appointment started out chatting with my new acupuncture therapist.

And let me just say, she is AMAZING!

 We discussed stress, stress management, guided meditation, and how we plan to
incorporate acupuncture with my IVF cycle ( for both the retrieval in a few weeks and
the transfer in a few months).

She told me that IVF is one of the most stressful processes that a couple will
go through in their life.  I guess my meditation (and now acupuncture) is doing it's job,
as I don't feel that stressed about IVF at all.  Now other life issues...
...that's where my stress lies.
I'm much more anxious to get the process going.

But anyway.

The purpose of acupuncture for those women going through IVF is to help decrease stress,
but also to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs to get ready for those little embryos.

The therapist then had me lay on her comfy table and was very thorough in explaining the entire process.  As she placed the small little needles, she explained how that point was of
significance in Chinese Medicine.  Right away I responded to a couple needles
as they were placed.  By "respond" I mean that I had a physical reaction, whether the
pin sent a spark of electricity through my body or limb, or I just felt a short poke.

In all she placed 19 needles (as indicated by a red dot in the diagram below)

The few that I responded to are numbered...

#1 was in the inside of my right arm.  This area had a burning feeling as I was going
through my guided meditation (Zita West track I previously blogged about).
I later found out from my therapist that this area is in charge of circulation;
from heart out to limbs and focusing on the digestion/reproductive area.

#2 was actually on the back side of my hand.  This area had an immediate response
that sent sharp, electrifying jolts down into my fingers and up into my wrist.
It was the most significant response of all the needles placed.  That is because it is a
pressure point for headaches and I just so happened to have a raging migraine from
all the editing I've been doing in the past few days.  I found this to be absolutely amazing.
But was even more mind-blowing was that by the end of my session,
my headache was completely GONE!
And it has stayed away since.
WOW!

#3 was a set of 5 pins place on my lower abdomen.  I didn't have any response to these
until I was in my guided meditation.  I didn't respond to each on individually, but rather all
of them as a whole.  It felt like I was having menstrual cramps.
After the session, my therapist explained that this is due to the increased blood flow
to this area because I was focusing my chi in this area.

#4 was a pin placed on the outter aspect of my left shin.  I responded to this pin right
away when it was placed.  This area is significant for muscle and joint aches/pains.
Ummmm...hello!?
As a former college athlete I have tons of joint aches.....all of the time.

#5 was a pin placed on the inner side of my foot just behind the ankle bone.
This area is known as Kidney 6 and helps in resolving many issues from head to toe.
From sore throats and emotional imbalances to insomnia and reproductive health.
I felt this pin the minute it was placed and throughout the session.

It would go from just a dull ache to a burning pain.

Again, all I can say is WOW!  What an awesome experience to actually have these
micro needles causing responses to areas within my body that are struggling.
Now that I know where these points are, I plan to continue focusing on them during my
guided meditation in the hopes of making my body more centered and healthy...
...and ready to have a little frozen embie snuggle in for 8 months.  :)

I cannot wait to go for my next session in a week!