Trying Acupuncture for Eczema

So with all the stress I was under at the tail end of last year my eczema was definitely the worst it's ever been to the point that nothing was making an impact whatsoever and I just looked ill. 

Having tried almost every avenue of western treatment and every herbal remedy I could think of, my mum suggested I try acupuncture and I have to say I was massively hesitant and skeptical. The thought that a few needles places randomly into my limbs would help in any way to calm my skin down just seemed a bit ridiculous but I was at my wit's end so I thought fuck it, what's there to lose?

I made an appointment (or rather my mum did) with Brian at Dunfermline Acupuncture on East Port and so I headed down there with her in tow to calm my nerves.

The first appointment began with me just sitting in an armchair telling him what my ailments were and him asking me questions to try and discern what all the effects were of the eczema e.g. the not sleeping.

I then had to take my shoes and socks off and sit sideways on on a gurney like you'd see in the GP's room. He took my pulse at the wrist on each hand and side of my neck, and my blood pressure, before going to grab some needles. Before placing them he squeezed my shoulders and neck to feel the tension (I think?) and then placed 2 needles in the centre of my back, 1 needle in the ditch of each elbow, 1 in the back of each hand between my thumb and forefinger and 1 in the side of each foot next to my pinky toe.

I have to say most of them didn't hurt at all to get placed in. Only one hand and one foot actually hurt but once they were in position they didn't, and I just had to sit there and chat away to him and my mum for a good 45-50 minutes whilst letting the needles do their thing.

Getting the needles out didn't hurt either apart from the ones that hurt on their way in. When I say it hurts though, think more of a general discomfort than the pain of being pricked with an actual needle.

After the first session I was tired. Brian explained that the placement of the needles was to raise my Qi (energy) levels as my energy had completely flatlined and that's why the eczema was refusing to improve.

A week later I went back and had pretty much the same treatment again with the needles being placed in slight variations to the first session. Different needles hurt going in to the first session and again I sat with them in and chatted away for a good 45-50 minutes before having them removed.

And as much as I don't understand it, I have to say it does work. My sleeping improved, my eczema started to clear up and stay cleared up rather than disappear and reappear every few days as it had done.

After a third session two weeks after the second session I felt good. So I left it at that. 3 sessions to build up my energy levels enough to let me body heal.

A few weeks later and the eczema was back, I went to see Brian and he scolded me for having too lazy a week explaining that not doing anything was what was making the eczema flair up. He encouraged me to be active rather than sedentary and to eat healthy and go outside. He even suggested I try Qi Gong to "open my lungs".

Two months later and I go to Brian whenever my eczema seems to be flaring up again whether it be because of stress or because of environment and a few needles does the trick and gets me back on track to being on top of my skin. Despite not understanding it and how it works, I can't deny that it does somehow, and until it doesn't do anything for me anymore I can guarantee I'll be going to acupuncture to fix me up again and following Brian's instructions as best I can.

Have you ever been to acupuncture for any ailments? What were your thoughts on the experience?

Love,

Melissa   x