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FAQ
Regarding Acupuncture
Does
it hurt?
People
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 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.
Acupuncture
is a complex branch of ancient Chinese medicine, but
its practical principles and methods are easily understood:
1.
Fourteen major energy channels called meridians course
through the human body.
2.
A subtle energy called Qi circulates via the meridians
to all parts of the body.
3.
Qi is the vital force. Its balanced flow is critical
to sound health
4.
Any blockage in the flow or balance of Qi may result
in pain, dysfunction or ill health.
5.
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 a complete system of medicine,
and has the capacity to diagnose any condition in its
own terms. Acupuncture is a part of it and can treat
many ailments effectively. Acupuncture and TCM can work
better than conventional medicine for certain things
and without the side effects of medications.
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:
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
The severity of the health concern/s. Higher pain levels
will take longer to heal than lower pain levels.
4.
How old the person is. A younger person heals faster
and better than an older person.
5.
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.
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