Frequently Asked Questions ~
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, although relatively new to the United States, is a medical model based on over 2000 years of experience and is utilized by at least 1/4th of the world’s population. Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical practices in the world. It is the practice of puncturing the skin with needles at specific anatomical points on the body to relieve symptoms associated with many syndromes and diseases. Acupuncture points have been shown to have certain electrical properties, which affect chemical neurotransmitters in the body. In fact, the points are warmer than the surrounding area by 0.1-0.2 of a degree. Western medicine cannot yet fully explain how acupuncture works, however, largely due to the increased interest, academic institutions and the NIH have increased research efforts and every year more studies are showing the efficacy of the ancient art. We do however know that acupuncture enhances the immune system, reduces the body’s unhealthy inflammatory responses, reduces pain, and helps regulate the nervous system. Traditional Eastern medicine explains that acupuncture harmonizes the qi flow in the body. Qi is the blood, energy, and nourishment of the body and the disruption of its flow will eventually lead to pain, emotional disturbances, and/or disease. It sees an individual’s physical and emotional state as an inextricable matrix and as such seeks to reestablish balance within this matrix.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?
Acupuncture is done with sterile, disposable, one-time use needles, which are individually packaged with essentially no chance of contagion. It is important to always go to a licensed acupuncturist who is NCCAOM certified. Currently, a licensed practitioner with a master’s degree from an accredited college is trained with at least 3,000 hours of didactic and clinical training an can effectively diagnose and treat their patients. Students are trained to know the anatomy of the body and the safest depth for each point.
CAN MODERN CHINESE MEDICIINE BE SAFELY COMBINED?
Not only can the two systems of medicine be safely combined, they can often enhance each others' effects. In many cases, herbs may make it possible to take a lower dosage of modern medications, reduce side-effects, and obtain an overall better effect. It is always advised that western medications be taken at a different time (e.g., an hour apart) from herbs or any other natural substances due to the synergistic effects of natural compounds and the fact that most allopathic medication can override or ruin the effects of any natural compound.
IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW BEFORE TRYING ACUPUNCTURE?
Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing with no stockings. Make sure to eat and drink water before your treatment so you are not hungry or dehydrated. Please bring the names of other healthcare practitioners you are seeing.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE TREATMENT?
The first treatment is a thorough evaluation that will last 1 ½ hours. Subsequent treatments will be approximately 60 minutes. I will take your pulse, which is a key diagnostic measure in oriental medicine. I monitor how the treatment is affecting your body and continue to retake the pulses throughout the treatment. I reassess your condition before every treatment in order to monitor changes in your body. I treat according to where the imbalance is on the day of your treatment, which shifts as your equilibrium changes. The goal is to help your body heal and I may make additional suggestions that are made to be empowering such as dietary advice, lifestyle modifications, stretches, exercises, herbal medicine, and/or referrals to other medical specialists.
IS ACUPUNCTURE PAINFUL?
Acupuncture needles are typically not much thicker than a hair and generally their insertion is essentially painless, in fact, many people fall asleep during their treatment. When using the needles, a patient will sometimes experience local paresthesia effects such as tingling, heaviness, or warmth. This sensation is related to the body’s awareness of the needle. It is not uncommon to feel sleepy after the treatment.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
Each person is unique with an individualized treatment plan. No two conditions or people respond exactly the same. The length of treatment depends on the type, severity, and duration of the condition, and the physical state at the time of treatment. Both the examination and your response can give us an idea. Each time you come in I reassess your progress and treatment plan. The best therapeutic results are attained by following the treatment plan and recommendations. It is important to complete the course of therapy for best and longest lasting results.
Ongoing treatments for health maintenance are designed and aimed to prevent disease and promote health and longevity, as well as vitality and a better quality of life. It can help your threshold to handle life’s everyday stressors and the imbalances created by the common day lifestyle.
IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED BY INSURANCE?
With growing demand more and more insurance companies are covering acupuncture. However, not all companies do. Upon request, I gladly provide the patient with a super-bill to be sent to their insurance company for reimbursement. Acupuncture is also a covered expense for a medical flex account and HSA. I am also in the process of being on the panel for several major insurance companies.
DO YOU PRESCRIBE HERBAL MEDICINE?
Yes I do when I think it is appropriate for the patient’s condition. There are many years of training required in order to prescribe herbal formulas. This is a craft which requires an understanding of the synergistic nature of the combination of herbs and the ability to write and develop formulas based on the person's constitution, symptoms, and the nature of the illness. This training includes understanding the theoretical foundation that has been evolving for 2,500 years, along with the modem research results found through chemical analysis, pharmacological and physiological testing in the laboratory, and clinical trials.
Herbal medicine works to support the body’s natural rhythm. The goal is to fix the imbalances that are allowing the disease to be present and the subsequent influence of the disease on the body. Therefore, as the body shifts towards health, the herbal formula may change in order to correctly address the dynamic at the time. Herbal formulas are intended to relieve the symptoms of disease as well as bring the body back to homeostasis.
