Acupuncture FAQ
What is acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being. It originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. American practices of acupuncture use medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea and other countries. In the United States, the best-known type involves putting hair-thin, metallic needles in your skin.
What happens during an acupuncture treatment
Acupuncture therapy usually involves a series of weekly or biweekly treatments. Each visit typically includes an exam and an assessment of your current condition, the insertion of needles. The first visit will typically last one hour, and the follow up visit generally lasts about 45-60 minutes.
Before the needles are placed, you'll lie down on a comfortable surface. Depending on where the needles are to go, you will lie facedown, faceup or on your side. Single-use sterile packaged needles will be used. You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, but generally the procedure isn't painful.
It's common, however, to feel a deep aching sensation when the needle reaches the correct depth. After placement, the needles are sometimes moved gently or stimulated with electricity or heat. As many as a dozen needles may need to be placed for each treatment. Once the needles are inserted, they're usually left in place for 20 to 30 minutes.
How does Chinese acupuncture work
The traditional Chinese theory behind acupuncture as medical treatment is very different from that of Western medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, health results form a harmonious balance between the complementary extremes (yin and yang) of the life force known as qi or chi.
Qi is believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. These meridians and the energy flow are accessible through more than 360 acupuncture points. Illness results from an imbalance of the forces. By inserting needles into these points in various combinations, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will rebalance.
In contrast, the Western explanation of acupuncture incorporates modern concepts of neuroscience. Many practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body's natural painkillers and increase blood flow.
Is acupuncture treatment safe
When done by a licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture is generally considered safe. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Acupuncture may not be safe if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.
Why choose Chinese acupuncture
Chinese acupuncture began over 2,000 years ago and is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (also called Oriental Medicine). In China, acupuncture is commonly accepted as a treatment for many diseases.
The spirit of traditional Chinese medicine is its holistic conception. We live in a universe in which everything is inter-connected. What happens to one part of the body affects every other part of the body. With acupuncture the "whole" person is treated, both mind and body, not just isolated systems or parts of the body.
Chinese acupuncture treats root cause. According to Chinese medicine theory, the occurrence of any disease is due to relative imbalance of yin and yang, and the course of a disease is actually the process of struggle between the antipathogenic qi and pathogenic factors. Regulation of yin and yang, strengthening the body resistance and eliminating the pathogenic factors by applying acupuncture to the selected points are believed the most important principles in acupuncture treatment.
Chinese acupuncture boosts your body’s natural ability to heal itself so it is both preventative and curative in nature.
How many acupuncture treatments do I need?
The length of a treatment varies widely from person to person, depending on the particular symptoms, whether it is acute or chronic condition, and the general health condition of the patient. For acute conditions a few treatments may be needed. For chronic problem one or two treatments a week for several months may be required.
If you do not feel any relief after having three treatments for acute conditions or six treatments for chronic conditions, then perhaps you should try another acupuncturist.
Green Point Acupuncture L.L.C.