How I got rid of my TMJ with Acupuncture
Hey Friends! Today’s blog post is an extra special one to me! It’s one of those posts that has my heart so full because not only am I able to share with you an experience that I hope you will find helpful, but also because through this partnership I gained a new friend- Mary Heaven! Keep reading to find out about how I got rid of my TMJ with acupuncture!
For all my local friends, I hope you’ll consider trying Mary Heaven Acupuncture. For all my non-local friends, I hope you still read this blog post because I share a lot of great, general information about acupuncture as well! Mary Heaven Acupuncture is conveniently located in Riverside, CT (it’s in the same building as Zen Bronze, right across the street from the J. House).
Stepping into Mary’s space for the first time, I relaxed instantly. The room is inviting, warm, professional, and most importantly, CLEAN! I also have to say that Mary did an amazing job designing her space (I might just have to bring her by my new place for some design tips!). Mary pays attention to the details, not just in the layout of her space, but also in her acupuncture practice.
I just want to take a second here and say that if you’ve tried an acupuncturist before and weren’t thrilled with the experience—maybe the office space smelt a little stale, maybe the person was a bit off-putting, or maybe you just didn’t get out of it what you’d hoped—then I hope that you’ll reconsider trying acupuncture. I’m 100% speaking from experience here! Back in high school I tried an acupuncturist in Fairfield, CT and walked away from my first appointment writing it off completely. Years later, I’m so glad I found Mary Heaven’s practice!
So what exactly is acupuncture?
Mary describes acupuncture as: an ancient East-Asian medical practice that works to support the body’s natural self-healing capabilities. This healing art consists of the application of fine needles to stimulate specific areas of the body to promote general health and vitality.
Acupuncture is used to treat somany conditions, some of which include: allergies, asthma, immune support, muscle strains, anxiety & depression, insomnia, digestive issues, skin conditions, TMJ… the list goes on! Additionally, cosmetic acupuncture is becoming more and more popular as people look for natural, healthier alternatives to Botox. (Cosmetic acupuncture can also be used to help with acne, hyperpigmentation, puffy eyes, and more!) While my acupuncture sessions aren’t strictly cosmetic (mine target my TMJ), I have to say I’ve noticed a huge difference with my skin- my acne is gone!
At my first session, Mary and I discussed how acupuncture could help with my TMJ. As I am anytime I’m trying something new, I was skeptical, nervous, but also excited. I’d been struggling with TMJ for the past 2+ years (ever since I started working at a hedge fund in NYC…meh) and nothing had really worked.
I didn’t fully believe acupuncture would be my panacea. This was in part because I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but also because this was a new experience for me and I didn’t know what to expect. I’d previously used a mouth guard at night, and while that helped a little, it didn’t heal my TMJ completely. I’m SO SO happy that I gave Mary Heaven Acupuncture a try because guys, it worked!! It totally worked. Let’s dive more into that…
What you can expect at your first session with Mary:
Mary’s acupuncture sessions are far more than just sticking tiny needles all around your body. Mary’s sessions are holistic, relaxing, and most of all, they work. I won’t get into all the step-by-step details, but here are some of the basics… your first session with Mary as a new client is about 75 minutes.
You can expect to start off your first session by sitting down with Mary and discussing your health, wellness, and life in general. For instance, Mary and I not only discussed my TMJ, but also how I was currently in the process of moving, which was stressing me out (A LOT) and causing my TMJ to be even worse.
Afterwards you’ll lay down on the heated, crystal-covered table for your acupuncture session. Mary also does cupping! (This is a great option for those who want similar benefits of acupuncture, but are really afraid of needles.) Speaking of needles! The needles are extremely fine and they don’t hurt at all. When Mary places a needle, I feel a slight tingling sensation. This sensation is what Mary describes that as “Chi,” or rather, energy.
After Mary places the needles you’ll be left to lay still for 30 minutes. During my acupuncture treatment, I also received Celluma Blue Light Therapy, which has so many additional benefits! Blue light is anti-inflammatory/bacterial, which means it works well on acne and rosacea. I LOVE that during this 30 minutes of just me time, I’m actually multi-tasking! While I’m breathing in essential oils Mary has diffusing, listening to a fun playlist, and letting the needles do their work, I’m also treating my acne-prone skin with the blue light therapy!
If this all sounds super relaxing and enjoyable, that’s because it is!
What you can expect post-session:
I started feeling the acupuncture work immediately after my session, but it wasn’t until a few days later that I was able to completely open my jaw and had no more jaw pain. My TMJ was gone!! I was able to eat a bagel for the first time in forever!! This all might sound silly to you guys, but there were so many things I had to forget about eating with TMJ. SO. MANY. THINGS. Like bagels.
After about two-three weeks I started getting my TMJ pain back, it wasn’t as bad as before, but it was back. (Probably because I was still super stressed about the move!). I went back to Mary and again for my second acupuncture treatment and within a day or two after my session my TMJ was gone again. How amazing!!
*Results will vary for everyone, and the effects of acupuncture will last longer for some and shorter for others. Your lifestyle will play a huge role in how acupuncture helps you. As you’d probably expect, you have to treat your body with respect and care outside of your acupuncture sessions to optimize the benefits!
The Takeaway:
Am I hooked on acupuncture now? YES! Why am I? Because it’s the only thing that worked for me to get rid of my TMJ. Not only that, but I’ve also seen benefits with my skin, no more acne and my complexion is overall more even. On top of that, I walk out of my sessions feeling relaxed and rejuvenated! Thanks Mary!
My acupuncture treatments at Mary Heaven Acupuncture are something I plan on keeping up with and continuing for my own personal wellbeing. I appreciate the values that align with acupuncture and I’m so thankful that Mary has helped me move towards a more balanced mind-body lifestyle.
I strongly believe that acupuncture is a must-try therapy, and in my case, I gave it a try not once, but twice. In case you missed me saying this earlier, my first experience with acupuncture wasn’t amazing. I didn’t love the person who was doing my acupuncture and I didn’t love the environment it was in. I’m so glad I gave acupuncture a second chance with Mary, because she is amazing, as are her treatments!
If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out! Mary and I could do a Q & A session in a future blog post or on Instagram….something fun! Additionally, stay tuned for an upcoming post about Gua sha Facials. If you’ve never heard about Gua sha before it reminds me of jade rolling, but it’s not the same thing… Anyway! A post on Gua Sha will be coming soon! Get excited because Gua sha is amazing.
*This blog post is in partnership with Mary Heaven Acupuncture. I received these services complimentary. As always, all opinions are my own and as a reminder, I only partner with brands and businesses that I believe in and know will be a perfect fit with Style Inherited’s audience! Thank you Mary for partnering with me!
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