About Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique for balancing and strengthening the bodies’ Qi, or energy, to flow more smoothly. Chinese medicine has a saying, ‘Where there is pain, there is no free flow’. Qi flows through energy pathways called meridians, which follow the contours of the body from top to bottom, internally to externally, forming a matrix through which we can affect that flow. The acupuncturist does this by inserting fine needles at specific points along those meridians, which break up blocks in the Qi flow causing pain and disease of all kinds. Because acupuncture can access the entire body, inside, and out, it can relieve not only the symptoms being presented, but also the underlying root causes creating the symptoms. Like a gardener pulls out a weed by the roots, Acupuncture transforms and expels the root, so the disease does not recur.
Acupuncture FAQs
Acupuncture is the insertion of extremely thin, sterilized, stainless steel needles into specific points on the body where there are special concentrations of qi (energy) and blood. These points are like switches or circuit breakers for regulating and balancing the flow of qi and blood in the body.
The needles are very fine, solid, stainless steel needles, the width of several hairs. Often my patients don’t even feel the needles. Many patients come for the first time, and say, ‘Is that all? I didn’t feel anything.’ They often are expecting something much more. If there is any sensation, one might feel tingling, warmth, or itching where the needle is placed.
All the needles are sterilized, and come packaged in single packets, which are opened just before use. Then the needles are disposed of in a special container after each session. So, they are used one time, for your treatment only.
Animals treated with Acupuncture don’t know to believe, or not believe, yet those with arthritic joints will often run and jump following Acupuncture treatments. Others who appear to be in the waning hours of their lives, and whose owners have been told by their vets are in Kidney failure, begin walking, eating, and urinating normally following Acupuncture. They exemplify Acupuncture working, despite any kind of belief in its effectiveness.
Acupuncture is a healing system, not a belief system. For humans, it is beneficial to be invested in our healing process, but it can still work, regardless. The Chinese have a saying, ‘The heart governs the mind’. If our heart isn’t in something, our mind won’t be interested in making the necessary diet and lifestyle changes, and we won’t follow through for healing to progress.
It is common to have some bruises on the places where the needles were placed. Sometimes some points hurt more or there can be a little bleeding after pulling out the needles.
Bruises or little bleeding occurs because the needles touch the capillaries under the muscles. But there is no need to worry because the pain on certain acupuncture points will be gone in few hours, and the bruises disappear within days.
That depends upon the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint. You may need only a single treatment for an acute condition. A series of five to fifteen treatments may resolve many chronic problems. Some treatments plans recommend 2-3 treatments per week while others recommend 1 treatment every week. However, it is not recommended getting acupuncture treatment irregularly because in that case, the result of acupuncture treatment may not build up.
You should receive acupuncture treatment until your pain is completely healed. If you stop in the middle of your treatment, the symptoms may reoccur. Some symptoms may get completely resolved by one acupuncture session, but some other symptoms are healed by 2-3 months continuous treatments. Rather than intensity of the pain itself, the duration of pain plays bigger role in deciding how soon the problem can be resolved.
A growing number of insurance companies will reimburse for Acupuncture treatments. Patients should contact their carrier to inquire directly, or we can verify your insurance coverage in advance to the first visit.
We are in-network acupuncture provider with BCBS, CIGNA, and UnitedHealthCare at this point.
We will be happy to provide a bill for patients to submit to their carriers for reimbursement if patients want to directly deal with an insurance company. Please note that full payment is due at time of the service and we cannot guarantee reimbursement in this case.
It is most beneficial to be able to relax and rest after treatment. Please avoid excessive physical activity, stressful situations, alcohol, and caffeine for a few hours after treatment.