Acupuncture in Korea!

I've been wanting to experience acupuncture for some time now. This is not because I have any problems with my body, but rather because I simply want the experience. Getting jabbed with needles is not the most applealing way to acheive good health, though I am drawn to it nonetheless.  In Canada, it is extremely expensive to be a human pin cushion, so that is one of the reasons why I have never tried it. Prices for first consultation are usually around 125$. In Korea, the price for first consultation was 7,500 Won (approximately 6$ Canadian). However, after the first consultation the price drops to 4 or 5 dollars (tax included). Some of the reasons why it is so cheap in Korea is because it is insured by the government and popular among its citizens. At the same time, if I was not insured, it would only be around 15,000 won (12$). In Canada, oriental clinics are not recognized by medicare. They are all privately run which drives prices sky high.

For the low price I payed in Korea, I got much more than I was expecting. The clinics atmosphere was also warm and welcoming. I was told to lie down on a bed which had beautiful coloured sheets. It makes a big difference compared to having plain white sheets with blue walls as is the custom in Canada. Someone came in and put these three containers onto my chest which had burning moxa inside them. This burned for around 20 minutes on me before the doctor came in and asked me where I had pain. I told him my lower back had some pain, even though that was sort of made up. It then proceeded to insert three needles into my ankle region. I felt the first one slightly, though for the second and third needle, I actually did not feel a thing. I then waited to 30 minutes or so with the needles in my ankle and the burning moxa on my chest.

After 30 minutes, a nurse came in and removed the needles but kept the moxa burning for a while longer before removing it and asking me to turn onto my stomach. She then put this machine with sucktion cups onto my lower back. It felt like it was some sort of octopus sucking the blood from my body. The machine was sucking but also seemed to be giving electrical shocks at the same time. It was quite nice!

I thought the treatment was over after they removed the octo-sucker, but instead they giuded me to another room with these strange vessels. A woman told me to enter and lie down in the machine. One part closed onto my legs and the other over my head. My lower body was warmed by what seemed to be infrared lights. Above my head and upper region, there were blue and green light. The machine started shaking and bumping me around. It was a massage machine. It was wonderful, except for the part that I had to pee since before I got there. With this things shaking and hitting my pressure points, I could have pee-ed my pants. The massage was so good that I had to put that urge to the back of my mind. As I did that, I was able to fully enjoy the experience of being bumped around. When the massage is over, people usually get out of the machine, though I was ready for a nap so I stayed in it for some time.

My body was tingling and I was endulging in the chemical rush that my brain was giving me. I felt great! After I got out I had a big smile on my face. Someone then suggested that I try the massage chair. I did not say no to that. It was also good but by this point we had already been there for around 1 1/2 hours. My friends were getting hungry so we then nom nomed at a Korean Vietnamese restaurant.We ordered Shabu Shabu and it was delicious.