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Does Acupuncture Hurt?

By Glenn Braud | Published December 30, 2025

Does acupuncture hurt? How does acupuncture feel?

 

Acupuncture needles are hair-thin. You might feel a quick pinch, tingle, or dull ache upon insertion of a needle but after that most people don’t realize the needle is there or has been inserted. If you feel any discomfort after insertion then just let your practitioner know and they can adjust or remove the needle.

 

Many people fall asleep on the table or feel very relaxed with the needles retained.

Acupuncture needles have no cutting edge and can bend under finger pressure compared to needles used for injection. The sensation is not similar to injection needles and is a different sensation.

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What is your cancellation policy?

By Glenn Braud | Published December 30, 2025

24 hours. This gives a chance to reschedule another patient in the place that was reserved for you.

Failure to give 24 hours notice will result in a cancellation fee.

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Where Should I park?

By Glenn Braud | Published December 30, 2025

There is free parking available on either side of the building. Both front and back entrance to the building are available entrances.

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Where are you located?

By Glenn Braud | Published December 30, 2025

4300 S I-10 Service Road West #208 Metairie, LA 70001

The clinic is located on the second floor in suite #208 near the back of the building.

Elevator and stair access are available

Restrooms are located within the hallways and require a key located within the clinic.

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Stillness in Motion: The Healing Power of Qi Gong at Home

By admin | Published December 22, 2025

Stillness in Motion: The Healing Power of Qi Gong at Home

Life can seem overwhelming and unmanageable at times. Everyone is looking for the secret self-care miracle that helps us cope. What may have been a desperate Google search for “natural anxiety relief” has become a daily anchor; the secret to staying calm, focused, and physically energized.

A growing number of people are turning to Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese mind-body practice, for its healing benefits. And more importantly, they are practicing it at home, making wellness a simple part of daily life without special equipment, gym memberships, or medication. continue reading »

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Sciatica

By Glenn Braud | Published December 15, 2025

Acupuncture for Sciatica | Big Easy Acupuncture, Metairie LA

Natural Support for Sciatic Nerve Pain, Back Pain, Tingling, and Leg Symptoms

Sciatica can be painful, frustrating, and limiting. Many people feel sharp pain, burning, numbness, or tingling that starts in the low back or hip and travels down the leg. Sitting, driving, walking, or sleeping can become uncomfortable.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sciatic nerve pain is one of the most common nerve-related issues we see. Many people come in after trying stretches, rest, or other treatments without lasting relief.

It is common to worry that something is permanently damaged or that movement will make things worse. In most cases, sciatic nerve irritation is very responsive to the right care.

At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, we help people with sciatica reduce pain, calm irritated nerves, and move more comfortably again using a structured, hands-on approach.

We commonly see sciatica in people who sit for long hours, stay physically active, or have jobs that place repeated stress on the body. Desk workers, active adults, and people with physically demanding work often experience sciatic nerve irritation for different reasons, but the symptoms can feel very similar. continue reading »

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How Manual Therapy Helps Reduce Pain and Improve Movement

By Glenn Braud | Published December 9, 2025

Practitioner performing manual therapy on a patient's neck to improve movement and reduce pain at Big Easy Acupuncture in Metairie, LA.Manual Therapy – for Pain, Stiffness, and Better Movement

Manual soft tissue therapy is a hands-on approach used to reduce pain, restore movement, and help tissue heal more completely. It focuses on how muscles, fascia, and connective tissue move, slide, and respond to stress or injury.

At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, LA, manual therapy is often used alongside acupuncture for neck pain, back pain, and pinched nerve conditions where stiffness or irritation keeps symptoms from fully resolving. 

How Inflammation and Adhesions Affect Pain and Movement

Inflammation is a normal part of healing. When tissue is stressed, injured, or overused, the body sends more blood to the area to help it repair. This process is meant to be temporary.

When healing goes well, swelling settles down, tissue softens, and movement returns to normal.

Problems happen when healing does not fully finish or keeps getting restarted. This can occur with repeated strain, poor posture, long hours at work, or old injuries that never healed well. Instead of returning to normal, tissue can become stiff, thick, and less flexible.

These stiff areas are often called adhesions.

Over time, adhesions can build up and change how tissue moves. They can limit range of motion, reduce strength, increase tension, and irritate nearby nerves. This is one reason pain can keep coming back even when rest, stretching, or exercise helps only for a short time.  continue reading »

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Chinese Herbal Medicine

By Glenn Braud | Published December 5, 2025

Chinese herbs example modality

Chinese Herbal Medicine | Big Easy Acupuncture, Metairie LA

Natural, personalized formulas to help your body heal from the inside out.

Chinese herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to support recovery, reduce pain, improve digestion, balance hormones, calm the nervous system, and strengthen overall health. While it may be new to many people in the U.S., in China it is a standard and trusted part of everyday healthcare.

If you’re searching for “Chinese herbal medicine” here’s what you need to know simply, clearly, and without any guesswork.

Many people come to me after months or years of feeling stuck, tired, stressed, bloated, or in pain without clear answers from standard care. If that feels familiar, you’re not alone and Chinese herbal medicine can help. continue reading »

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Can You Exercise After Acupuncture?

By Glenn Braud | Published December 4, 2025

Runner moving along a road, symbolizing safe return to exercise after acupuncture treatmentIf you train regularly, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s safe to work out after an acupuncture session. Many athletes use acupuncture to improve mobility, strength, recovery, and pain control so they can train consistently. But what about going right back to lifting, running, or conditioning afterward?

The short answer is yes. In many cases, it is perfectly safe to exercise after acupuncture, and movement can even help the treatment work better. But the best choice depends on your body, your goals, and the type of issue you’re being treated for.

Most athletes are looking for clarity to know when it’s safe to push and when their body needs more recovery. It’s completely normal to worry about losing progress or throwing off your training rhythm. This is especially true when you’re working through pain, tightness, or recovery. This guide is meant to give you confidence in your choice. 

At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, I work with lifting athletes, runners, weekend warriors, and active people who want to keep their bodies strong and moving well. This guide explains what to expect, when to train, when to rest, and how to know what is right for you. continue reading »

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Holistic Medicine

By Glenn Braud | Published December 3, 2025

Acupuncture treatment on the forearm supporting holistic pain relief, mobility, and whole-body wellness at Big Easy Acupuncture in Metairie, LA

Holistic Medicine for Pain, Mobility, and Strength | Big Easy Acupuncture, Metairie LA

A practical, whole-body approach to pain, stress, and function

When most people search for “holistic medicine,” they’re looking for care that treats more than just one symptom. They want someone to look at how their pain, stress, movement, sleep, and health all fit together.

At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, “holistic” has a clear meaning. We look at how your muscles, joints, nerves, nervous system, and lifestyle are working together. We then use acupuncture, hands-on work, accountability coaching, and herbal support to help your body and mind function better as a whole.

What Holistic Medicine Means at Big Easy Acupuncture

Here at big easy acupuncture we look the whole body in these ways:

Structure 

How you move, your strength, and where tension is held. This leads to which muscles are weak, overworking, or inhibited.

Nerve Pathways

Where nerve irritation, compression, or poor signaling might be affecting strength, sensation, or pain. Acupuncture also helps calm the nervous system to help people feel more relaxed.

Systems

Sleep, stress, digestion, and energy—all of which affect how you heal

Your life

Work demands, activity levels, past injuries, and what you need your body to do day to day

Instead of chasing single symptoms, we look for patterns across all of these areas.  continue reading »

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