Acupuncture Questions & Answers

From a Western perspective, acupuncture stimulates parts of the brain and body to release natural biomolecules such as neurotransmitters (endorphins), vasodilators and hormones. Scientific research shows that these biomolecules trigger the immune system and pain-regulating mechanisms, and the effects are measurable. Studies using MRI, CT, thermal imaging and ultrasound have documented acupuncture’s effects on the body.

The World Health Organization has listed conditions that may benefit from acupuncture, including:

• Ear, nose and throat disorders, toothaches, pain after tooth extraction, earaches, sinus inflammation, nasal inflammation or dryness.
• Respiratory disorders, uncomplicated bronchial asthma in children or adults.
• Gastrointestinal disorders, digestive tract problems, hiccups, inflammation of the stomach, chronic duodenal ulcers, inflammation of the colon, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery caused by certain bacteria.
• Eye disorders, inflammation of the conjunctiva, inflammation of the central retina, nearsightedness (in children) and uncomplicated cataracts.
• Nervous system and muscular disorders.
• Headaches, migraines, certain facial paralysis or nerve pain, partial weakness after a stroke, inflammation of nerve endings, bed-wetting, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain and osteoarthritis.

For more information, please look at our research on acupuncture page here.

Depending on the nature of the problem, the location of the points selected, the patient’s size, age and constitution (and on the acupuncturist’s style or school), the needles can be inserted anywhere from ¼ to 1 inch.

No. Really 🙂

The needles are less than the diameter of a human hair. A dull pressure, warmth or tingling sensation is often felt during the treatment, and most people are amazed by how relaxed they feel (and often fall asleep). You might feel a momentary prick around the needle as it is inserted.

Most patients agree that the benefits of receiving acupuncture outweigh any initial concerns they may have had 🙂

As long as a licensed professional performs it, acupuncture is extremely safe.

Do not allow just anybody to perform “dry needling” on you. Dry needling should only be done by a licensed acupuncture physician with years of training. Some people offer it after a weekend course (35 hours on average), and they can harm you.

If you were to have surgery, would you rather go to a real doctor with extensive years of training or somebody who took a weekend training to learn how to operate on people?

Get acupuncture from a licensed acupuncture physician.

This depends on the condition of the individual. Many conditions are alleviated and/or resolved rather quickly by acupuncture, but chronic conditions that developed over many years will require a longer course of treatment (and will probably require herbal treatments also). As in any form of healing, the patient’s attitude and participation affect the outcome of a course of treatments.

Come to your treatment wearing comfortable clothes. Patients usually remain clothed during treatment; however, gowns and linens will always be available if partial disrobing is required (it doesn’t happen often). Please eat a few hours before your treatment so you’re not too hungry or too full for your visit.

Please refrain from caffeine, alcohol and strenuous physical activity following acupuncture.

Acupuncture can help with a wide range of conditions. Here are a few:

Gastrointestinal disorders: food allergies, peptic ulcer, constipation, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis.

Urogenital disorders: stress incontinence, urinary tract infections and sexual dysfunction.

Gynecological disorders: irregular, heavy or painful menstruation, PMS, infertility in women and men, menopausal symptoms, childbirth and lactation support, and erectile dysfunction.

Respiratory disorders: emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies and bronchitis.

Pain management, musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders: arthritis, neuralgia, migraine headaches, insomnia, dizziness, tendonitis, tennis elbow, low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, whiplash and sports injuries.

Circulatory disorders: hypertension, anemia, edema, stroke, angina pectoris and arteriosclerosis.

Emotional and psychological disorders: depression, emotional traumas, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), mania, anxiety, stress and grief, and PTSD.

Addictions: alcohol, nicotine and many types of drug addiction.

Yes! Acupuncture is very beneficial as an ongoing health maintenance program (think “tune-up”). Just as you would go to your general practitioner for a check-up, you can visit your acupuncturist for seasonal acupuncture treatments as good preventive care.

Cash, checks and most credit cards are accepted.

Yes!

• You need to RELAX 🙂 Ask me any questions as they occur to you, so you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment.
• Avoid sudden movements or changing your position. Let me know if you need to adjust.
• I’m here to help you.
• Rarely, people experience dizziness, nausea, cold sweats or faintness during the treatment, in most cases due to nervousness. Let me know immediately so I can remove or adjust the needles.

Some patients experience an immediate, total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms. This relief may last, or some pain may return. In a few cases, there may be no immediate relief (remember, chronic conditions), but symptoms may diminish over the next couple of days. You will probably have more questions than I can answer here, so please feel free to ask me.