Best Acupuncture Experience in Jacksonville

I first tried acupuncture years ago and didn’t like it. I recently tried it again and had a great experience with Robin Barlow, AP, at Sunshine Healing Arts Acupuncture in Jacksonville, FL.

The office is located just off Atlantic Blvd, in Atlantic Beach, and is easy to locate, with plenty of free parking. Read on to find out what made this experience different than my first try, and what sets Sunshine Healing Arts apart from other acupuncture clinics.

My First Acupuncture Experience

The first time I tried acupuncture was when going through fertility treatments. The doctor suggested giving acupuncture a try before moving onto to more aggressive treatment. It’s a popular option while jumping through the infertility hoops before you get to IVF. It’s also successful enough for the resulting babies to have a nickname- “acu-bean.”

I didn’t have a great experience, and I did eventually do IVF. The place I went was noisy, and I mostly just laid there wondering when it would be over with. My experience at Sunshine Healing Arts was completely different.

Acupuncture at Sunshine Healing Arts

First, Sunshine Healing Arts is immediately tranquil and relaxing. The office is quiet and the treatment rooms have more of a spa atmosphere.

The acupuncturist Robin takes the time to discuss what’s going on with you, and you’ll be surprised at how many things acupuncture can help with! She’ll ask about about your health concerns, lifestyle, and medical history. You’ll often be treating several things at the same time.

Depending on the areas treated, you will lie face up or face down on a comfortable massage table. You’ll want to wear loose clothing so it can be moved for treatment if needed.

The beds are heated and she also has heat lamps so you don’t get chilly. And there are no noisy office sounds! The only sounds you’ll hear is the gentle spa music playing in each room.

What Is Acupuncture Treatment Like?

Each treatment is unique, but it involves a lot of very thin, sterile needles inserted into specific points on the body to promote healing and balance energy flow (Qi).

Needle Insertion

Using precise techniques, the acupuncturist gently inserts ultra-thin, sterile needles into acupuncture points on your body. The needles are usually inserted just beneath the skin or slightly deeper into muscle tissue.

They do this with a quick little tap, so most people feel little to no discomfort, though some report a tingling or mild dull ache, which is a sign of energy activation.

My personal experience is a bit all over the place. Some feel like nothing at all, some a little tingle and some feel like a bit of a shock. Different parts of your body will react in differnt ways.

At one point Robin did a needle right in the top of my head, and I felt a zing of energy shoot down my body into my leg. The feelings can be a little bit crazy sometimes!

Resting Phase

Once all the needles are placed, you’ll rest for about 35-45 minutes. During this time, you may experience deep relaxation, warmth, or a mild sensation of energy movement in your body. Some people even fall asleep.

To me, it feels like enrgy moving around in my body where the needles have been placed. It also will come in waves where everything feels tingly and then it feels like nothing. I haven’t yet fallen totally asleep, but I have zoned out a few times into a dreamlike state.

Needle Removal

The acupuncturist carefully removes the needles, which is quick and painless, and you may feel an immediate sense of relaxation or lightness. There’s typically no bleeding, though minor redness may appear at some points.

Post-Treatment

After the session, you might feel energized or deeply relaxed and a bit out of it like you just had a massage. It’s recommended to drink water, avoid strenuous activities, and allow your body to integrate the effects of the treatment.

Acupuncture is used for various conditions, including pain relief, stress reduction, digestive issues, hormonal balance, and overall wellness. Many people find benefits after just one session, though chronic conditions may require multiple treatments for lasting results.

Regular Acupuncture Treatment

Now that I’ve found a great place for acupuncture in Jacksonville, I’m a regular. I go once a week, but your treatment plan can be customized if you want to go less, like once a month, or even more often. Some people come in twice a week!

More than Acupuncture

Sunshine Healing Arts also offers Body Balance Treatments, vitamin shots and Herbal Medicine. On my first visit, Robin mixed a custom herbal formula to help treat several of the issues we were working on. The herbal powder can be mixed with water like a tea or put into capsules.

Chinese herbal medicine is often combined with acupuncture treatments for an added therapeutic effect. It has “a long history reaching back several thousand years, and the resulting system is now used to treat everything from the common cold to symptoms associated with cancer,” according to the Sunshine Healing Arts website.

Whatever might be ailing you, I recommend trying acupuncture! And if you are local to Jacksonville, visit Robin Barlow, AP at Sunshine Healing Arts in Atlantic Beach, where she can customize a course of treatment tailored to your specific needs.

Sunshine Healing Arts Acupuncture

904-881-8080

 625 Atlantic Boulevard, Suite 1, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233