F.A.Q.
Here are some frequently asked questions (F.A.Q.) and answers. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions.
Does acupuncture hurt?
The sensations that patients experience during acupuncture range from nothing at all to a brief ache or heaviness in the area being needled. Some points are more sensitive than others. By and large patients describe the sensations as fleeting and the treatment experience as deeply relaxing.
Why would I see an acupuncturist?
Many patients begin acupuncture treatment to find relief from a wide range of physical conditions. Some patients have lived with their condition for years believing they must live with pain. Still others believe that taking a pill, which masks their physical or emotional symptoms, is the answer. Acupuncture provides gentle healing on a deep level, and can succeed where other treatments have not. Many who are not experiencing ailments also seek treatment to maximize their wellness and maintain balance. The greatest reason to begin acupuncture treatment is to cultivate vitality and radiant health and to stimulate the tremendous healing power of the body, mind and spirit.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
A growing number of insurance companies will reimburse for acupuncture treatments. Consult your insurer for the terms of coverage on your policy.
Are the needles safe?
Yes. Sterile disposable needles are used. They are used once and then disposed of immediately.
I am not sick, why would I see an acupuncturist?
Acupuncture awakens the senses and offers the possibility of deep healing of the body, mind and spirit as an inseparable whole. Many patients experience increased clarity, creativity and deeper meaning in their day-to-day lives. Many patients come for regular treatments to achieve increased effectiveness and enjoyment at work. Others come to help deepen their relationships with others. Acupuncture is also a powerful preventative measure to keep you healthy throughout the year.
How frequently do I need to come to benefit from treatment?
The frequency of treatments varies with each individual. Please feel free to call me to discuss your concern and a possible plan of treatment.
I want to come for treatment, what do I do next?
Contact me at the telephone number displayed on the top of my website. We will discuss your concerns and schedule an initial visit. During your first visit we will explore a treatment schedule that will best meet your needs.
How does acupuncture work?
This highly effective system of medical care is based on natural laws, which govern the movement of vital life giving energy, both in nature and in the body. This energy, called “Qi” (pronounced chee), moves through the body in precise channels supporting functions of the body, mind and spirit. When the chi is moving disharmoniously, imbalance begins to surface in the form of specific symptoms. To address the underlying cause of a condition, these symptoms are viewed in relationship to the totality of a person. The gentle insertion of hair thin needles at specific points along the channels of Qi energy, help restore harmony. In the presence of this subtle yet profound intervention, symptoms often resolve and patients frequently experience renewed vitality.
What Can I Expect?
Most people are surprised at the depth of relaxation and the sense of well being and healing which occurs from the rebalancing of the body’s energy. Often relief from symptoms is felt immediately, although relief may occur over the course of days or weeks depending on the severity of symptoms. You will find you will look forward to treatment for the many benefits that are received from acupuncture.
Is There Scientific Evidence that Acupuncture Works?
Over the last few decades much research has been conducted to explain how acupuncture works. The 1997 National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported, “Acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses, mediated mainly by sensory neurons to many structures within the central nervous system. This can lead to activation of pathways affecting various physiological systems in the brain as well as in the periphery”(1) and “acupuncture activates the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitter and neurohormones and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally have been documented. There is also evidence of enhancements in immune functions produced by acupuncture”(2)
1,2National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, Program & Abstracts (Bethesda, MD, November 3-5, 1997). Office of alternative Medicine and Office of Medical Applications of Research, Bethesda.
For additional reading: Scientific Validation of Acupuncture