Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Acupuncture Treat? Although well known for pain management in the US, acupuncture is actually effective for a wide variety of problems. The World Health Organization has declared acupuncture an effective treatment for the following: addictions, arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel,. chemotherapy, nausea, depression, a variety of digestive problems, ear problems, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia, menstrual and female disorders, muscle and joint problems, sinusitis, skin disorders and much more.
Is it painful? There are misconceptions about the treatment, most having to do with pain, but acupuncture is almost never painful. The needles are extremely small, nothing like needles used to administer drugs. An acupuncture needle does not puncture the skin; it slides into the tissue without cutting it and can hardly be felt. CHA uses the finest Japanese needles: smooth, sterile and disposable, with rounded points. Discomfort is rare and usually due to an unusual degree of tightness or sensitivity. During an acupuncture session, different sensations may be experienced by the patient, from numbness and tingling, to an electrical-like discharge upon insertion. This is perfectly normal. The discomfort will usually disappear as soon as the needle insertion is complete, five seconds or less. If the discomfort remains, please notify the practitioner. The sensation of acupuncture is actually rather pleasant and most people fall into a very relaxed state of mind.
Is it safe? Most acupuncturists, as we do in our clinic, use pre-sterilized, individually packaged, disposable needles thus absolutely assuring that there is no transmission of communicable disease from patient to patient due to contaminated needles.
Do acupuncturists only insert needles? No. As an integral part of treatment, most practitioners are also trained to use a number of adjunctive therapies. These typically include cupping, electronic stimulation, magnetotherapy, burning of herbs, and various types of massage, such as acupressure and Tuina Chinese massage.
Are there different styles of Acupuncture? Yes, Acupuncture originated in China but spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Europe, the British Isles, and America. Different styles have developed based on differing opinions as to theory and technique
How does Acupuncture Work? That is a big question. Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese Theories of the flow of Qi and blood through discrete channels which traverse the body similar, but not identical, to the nervous and blood circulatory systems. According to this theory, acupuncture regulates this flow of Qi shunting it to those areas where it is deficient and draining it from where it is excess. Thus acupuncture regulates and restores the harmonious energetic balance of the body. In Chinese there is a famous dictum, "There is no pain if there is free flow; if there is pain, there is no free flow." Essentially acupuncture promotes the free and balanced flow of Qi and Blood.
Do I have to believe in Acupuncture for it to work for me? A positive mental outlook is very helpful in any treatment type. But note that acupuncture has been used successfully to treat children and animals, neither of whom have preconceived beliefs about the effectiveness of acupuncture. But a positive mental outlook can enhance the effects of treatment.
How many treatments do I need? That depends on the duration, severity, and nature of each individual's complaints. Generally improvement should be seen within the first five treatments or so. It should be noted that acupuncture builds on itself, and ideally, initial treatments will be every week for the first few weeks. However, many patients choose to use acupuncture as a preventative medicine and after no longer suffering from acute conditions choose to receive maintenance treatments (these are generally once a month or so).
Is there anything I need to do before receiving an acupuncture treatment? Please consider the following suggestions to help make the best of the acupuncture treatment. Obviously it is desirable to maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the possibility of bacterial infection, but beyond that you should wear loose clothing, avoid coffee and alcohol beforehand and avoid treatment when you are excessively fatigued, hungry, full, emotionally upset, or shortly after sex.
What can I expect after treatment? One may experience immediate total, or partial, release of their symptoms. This may last, or the symptoms may eventually return. Note that in a very few cases, the pain may seem even worse. This is called the rebound effect. But, by the next day, the pain can be expected to gradually improve. However, one should see further incremental improvements after each subsequent treatment.
Please contact your practitioner with any other questions