Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture
Does it hurt?
Our clients experience the needling sensation differently. Most people do not describe acupuncture needles as painful, although some people do feel a slight pinch, a slight ache or a tingling sensation as the needles are inserted, but most feel no pain. The needles are tiny, often slightly larger than a whisker. The more you can relax during an acupuncture treatment, the better the results. Some people even fall asleep during treatment.
What should I wear for the treatment?
Wear loose fitting clothes that can be easily rolled up above your elbows and knees.
Why Acupuncture?
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of, if not, the oldest documented medicine in the world. It is one of the most effective, natural, drug-free therapies available in the United States. Furthermore, Acupuncture has an extremely low risk of negative side effects and is often found to be relaxing and pain free.
Are the needles clean?
Only sterilized, individually packaged, disposable needles are allowed for use by Licensed Acupuncturists according to FDA requirement. This eliminates the possibility of transmitting a communicable disease by a contaminated needle.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture literally means puncturing the skin with a needle. It is an ancient physical therapy based on the theory of a network of channels which distribute vital energy called Qi (pronounced chee) around the body. Click here to view conditions treated by Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is a complex branch of ancient Chinese Medicine, but its practical principles and methods are easily understood:
- Fourteen major energy channels called meridians course through the human body.
- A subtle energy called Qi circulates via the meridians to all parts of the body.
- Qi is the vital force. Its balanced flow is critical to sound health
- Any blockage in the flow or balance of Qi may result in pain, dysfunction or ill health.
- With Acupuncture needles, the acupuncturist stimulates certain points along the meridians. This stimulation helps restore the normal balance and flow of Qi so organs and bodily systems can work together in harmony as intended.
Can Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture help me?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that has been practiced for more than five thousand years. TCM is a holistic medical model that always addresses both the physical and emotional areas of health imbalances at the same time. When combined, TCM, which means using Acupuncture, Chinese Medical Pulse Diagnosis and Chinese Herbal Medicine together has the unique capacity to diagnose and cure illness without the possible side effects of many other medications and procedures.
Are there any side effects to Acupuncture?
Not like the kinds of side effects one can get with pharmaceutical medicines. Patients sometimes have local bruising or tenderness at the needles insertion site. They may also experience feelings of “light-headedness”, feeling “spaced out”, sleepy or even energized after treatment.
How long is a course of Acupuncture treatment?
The answer to this depends on the problem presented. Usually the more acute, and the less severe a problem, the quicker it can be remedied. Some people need as little as a few treatments for relief care, while others continue ongoing treatments for wellbeing and for the correction of the underlying cause of their ailments. We compare this to braces to straighten teeth. We suggest monthly maintenance treatments to hold the improvements and prevent other symptoms from manifesting. We compare this to the retainer after the braces are removed.
The following factors affect the treatment outcome:
- How long the client has had the health concern. The longer they have had their concern, the longer it will usually take to support the body to heal it.
- How many different health concerns the client has. It will be faster if the treatments are only focused on one health concern, versus treating many different health concerns at the same time.
- The severity of the health concern/s. Higher pain levels will take longer to heal than lower pain levels.
- How old the person is. A younger person heals faster and better than an older person.
- The individual response rate to the Acupuncture treatments. This also depends on the compliance with the suggested treatment frequency.
How much does Acupuncture cost? Will my insurance pay for Acupuncture?
The answer to this question varies. We will be more than happy to provide a courtesy call to your insurance provider to find out what kind of acupuncture benefits you may be entitled to. We also offer a number of payment options, as well as a sliding fee scale, for those who qualify. When you come in for your initial consultation, we will be more than happy to go over these specifics with you.
For more info on your First Office Visit click here.
For more info on your First Acupuncture Treatment click here.