Reclaiming Your Light: Using Acupuncture in Car Accident Recovery

Accidents can be devastating in more ways than one. But the road to recovery needn’t be a convoluted process or a short-term fix. Early treatment and resounding support go a long way to aid inner healing. Nurturing yourself back to recovery can have a profoundly positive impact on your well-being.

Through this blog, we aim to support you with the right information on how and when acupuncture treatments can help you recover from a car accident. We will also discuss ICBC insurance coverage of acupuncture treatment for car accidents.

What is acupuncture?

In brief, acupuncture is a traditional Chinese practice that involves inserting needles in strategic points of the body to treat conditions ranging from chronic pain to emotional healing and stress relief. It promotes inner healing, through non-invasive and drug-free procedures.

Aftermath of a car accident

The effects of car accidents can range from mild to severe and physical to emotional. In some

cases, there may be no sign of physical trauma, or the individual may not experience pain right after the car accident. Our bodies have magnificent ways to keep us going. The cocktail of stress hormones produced can keep one alert. After an accident, the adrenaline rush taps into the body’s natural defense system: flight-or-fight mode. It makes us quick to respond to imminent threats in our surroundings. This could mean momentarily forgetting about the pain. Sometimes it may take weeks for pain symptoms from an accident to manifest. This is why getting care and support for your physical and mental well-being is important in the aftermath of an accident.

How does acupuncture help in recovering from a car accident?

In the case of car accidents common treatment relies heavily on Western medicine and surgeries. While this may be a necessary intervention for many, it comes with side effects ranging from mild to severe.

Depending on the severity of the injuries, acupuncture can help with restorative healing by

addressing the root causes.

For most people, a combination of pharmacological treatment and acupuncture can help speed up healing by addressing both the symptoms and root causes.

Common car accident injuries that acupuncture helps heal:

● Fractures

● Whiplash

● Chronic pain

● Post-operative pain

● Headaches

● Mobility issues

Benefits of acupuncture in healing from a car accident

1. Improves blood circulation:

Acupuncture is one of the best ways to improve blood flow circulation.

Why is that needed here you ask? Blood carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Wounds and injured tissues need blood and nutrients for effective healing. Acupuncture points stimulate body parts, preventing blood stagnation and enhancing blood flow.

2. Helps combat inflammation:

Inflammation is the body’s natural defense response. The immune system deploys inflammatory cells to help fight foreign pathogens and heal wounds. Inflammation can manifest as swelling, redness, pain, etc.

However, inflammation for a long time after a car accident can cause significant harm. The inflammation may begin as acute and if left untreated inflammation could progress to chronic inflammation.

Acupuncture has now been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Through its stimulating process,

acupuncture decreases the production of inflammatory proteins and promotes faster healing.

3. Reduces pain and promotes self-healing:

Acupuncture targets specific points and releases the body's natural painkillers called enkephalins and endorphins. Endorphins have been known to help relieve pain, reduce stress, and elevate mood. Knowing about the body’s self-healing mechanism can help you see your body anew for all the wonders it does. This powerful pan helps you reconnect with your body and see your body anew for all the

wonders it does.

4. Relieves Stress:

Acupuncture is notable for relieving stress. While recovery from stress differs from person to

person, most report feeling calm and stress-free.

Alongside endorphins, acupuncture also helps release dopamine and serotonin –considered the

feel-good hormones. Acupuncture after sustaining a car accident helps alleviate symptoms of

PTSD, anxiety, emotional trauma, and accompanying insomnia.

Your emotional health matters as much as your physical health. Addressing and embracing

emotional and mental health needs help minimize a lot of distress and make your recovery easier.

Acupuncture treatment after a car accident

Acupuncture treatment is always tailor-made for your needs. Your acupuncturists will assess your injuries, and accordingly create a treatment plan that best supports you. This treatment plan may be shared with your ICBC adjuster to help you claim the insurance. There are various kinds of acupuncture treatments and acupuncture techniques. Based on your unique needs, your acupuncturist may use cupping therapy, Gua Sha, or other techniques to promote blood flow, reduce nerve tension, and ease pain. It may take a while to see the results depending on the severity of your injuries. But it is important to continue and give the treatment a fair chance.

ICBC coverage for acupuncture treatment

In British Columbia, ICBC covers acupuncture treatment for car accidents. You can get twelve free appointments. But, not all services are covered by ICBC, so it is best to know more about this from your insurance provider.

Only acupuncturists licensed in the province of British Columbia can provide you with acupuncture treatments that ICBC covers.

Our team of acupuncturists are registered by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) as only practitioners who are registered with this organization are eligible for ICBC coverage.

At Unplug Hour Wellness, we assess your injuries and directly submit the bills to ICBC for your

appointments to be hassle-free. We also monitor your recovery process and communicate with

your adjuster in case you need more appointments.