Self Help: Acupuncture

I was really sick this past week, wasted away to nothing. When the nurse checked my weight, she practically jumped back, she couldn’t believe the scale. I frowned, “I know, I have no appetite. But I’m also only 4’10”!”

I have been run down at work with no ability to take time off. Well the ickies got ahold of me and I was in bed sick for several days. What’s worse is that Franco has been sick off and on since NYE. He has had every cold/flu symptom possible. Then he started taking antibiotics for his ear infection and had an allergic reaction that turned him into a 20 pound strawberry. I want to cry every time I hear him hack a lung or see his red bumpy face. My poor baby!

Like I said, I haven’t had a chance to leave my desk, let alone get lunch at work. After I got sick, I vowed to get myself to acupuncture ASAP. One of the few good things about moving out of San Francisco was finding an amazing acupuncturist, Bao Ping Zeng, in Oakland Chinatown. I’ve done a lot of acupuncture in my lifetime, but nothing compares to her sessions.

First, some commentary on typical acupuncture. You meet and chit chat with an acupuncturist. They check your pulse, look at your tongue. You lay down and they start pricking you. Then they leave you alone and set a timer or give you a bell to ring if you want out. Sessions here in the Bay Area are $75-150. Sometimes they try to sell you on some herbs.

What’s unique about Bao Ping Zeng is that she doesn’t leave you. For 90 minutes, she’s putting needles on your head, arms, legs. She makes you do a complete 360 as she works different parts of your body. She applies HOT towels. She does light massage. And she does cupping all over your back. Her rate? A mere $40 for 90 minutes of intensive acupuncture. At that rate, I can’t afford not to go! She is an acupuncture guru. I tell my parents, “If either of you get sick, I am dropping you off at my acupuncturist so that she can heal you.”

While I feel I found a neighborhood gem, I am certain there are miracle acupuncturists all over the world. Especially here in the Bay Area, people rave about their go-to acupuncturists.

Acupuncture is proven to help with a slew of health issues, including infertility. My UCLA-educated reproductive endocrinologist handed me the business card of an acupuncturist and said to start doing acupuncture regularly. I was already a believer, but the validation of a doctor sealed the deal for me.

Pros

• Relaxing, very zen.
• Even bad acupuncture is good. In other words, I’ve always benefited from every session I’ve gone to. Sometimes I felt I could find a better practitioner, but acupuncture still works.
• Honestly if I could find the time (which I need to) to see an acupuncturist regularly, I would not get sick, not need antidepressants or sleeping pills, and would generally be in a better, more peaceful mood.

Cons

• Can be very expensive.
• Can be hard to fit into a busy schedule, but so is anything. Brushing your teeth is hard to fit into your schedule, but you still do it twice a day.
• Takes time to find the right acupuncturist. Ask family/friends/doctors for referrals. Read the reviews on Yelp.
• Sometimes acupuncturists can be pushy, trying to sell you on Chinese herbs.

What do you think of acupuncture? Would love to hear about personal experiences.