Subject: Re: DIYacupuncture The Practice

after you sort out is which needles to use

As with any self experiment be careful - with some experiments, as this one, it is important to make only one experiment at a time ... otherwise, you and your body cannot learn from the experience.

so, only give yourself treatments every other day - to give your body time to respond to and learn from each treatment ...

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Where to start: Obviously its good to have had a few acupuncturist appointments ... to give you a few ideas ... e.g. realising you only need to put the tip of the needle in ...

The stomach or the hands... the fleshy area between thumb and first finger (on the back of the hand) (and top of the foot) is maybe a good place to start practicing placing the needles ... maybe first use just one needle several times just to get a feeling for sticking them in -

Id advise doing a couple of sessions just on hands feet and stomach before going on -

Between the fingers and toes - seems to be release points - (but once I needled between all the fingers - and had to take them out after a few minutes because everything felt as though it was blocking)

the ears exactly where it hurts can be good ... when I feel a little burning sensation there I know the needles need to go in

I find a couple of needles both sides of the base of spine very good to cure back ache loosen shit and relax, often sends me to sleep ... but I reckon everyone's different and also placing needles in your back is a step for later on ... but is very effective

just below the knees on the outside leg is a larger dell, (a sort of inward bump) this seems to be a very strong point for cold feet cramps, knee ache and for me that I used to feel a line of cold running down the outside of my leg to the foot - these knee points released that.

Often needles hurt when putting them in but then any pain is imediately gone - If it still feels uncomfortable after 5-20 seconds - then take them out again ... you must use your own common sense and sensitivity

(some experts say it shouldnt hurt - there is definately a subtle form of acupuncture which the experts learn ... but there is also a common form - maybe it could be compared it old fashioned honey and lemon which is now refined in vitamin C)

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How Long How Many: Acupuncture appointments last half an hour, and I believe one of the skills of the acupuncturist is using 12-20 needles so positioned to work optimally for the half hour youve reserved the room ... and to give you a full body treatment which will last a day or two

I would suggest you start with just 2 or 3 needles - and leave them in as long just as they are comfortable ... experiment - 5 mins to 2 hours

Sometimes they drop out - one of my puncturists said they go in hard and come out soft and when they come out soft it means they have worked (loosened up the block).

There is a split second "pain" when you put them in - I mean its hardly pain - ít is a pricking sensation which any normal human being would simply be aware of.

You need to use your intelligence and your common sense and as long as you are not self destructive, and resentful of me and doctors for some reason -- and etc ... as with any experiments, ... then I cant see what could go wrong ... dont do it around eyes ... dont do it to other people - check the warnings and learn from others experience on the forum hopefully soon.

cheers robinsm