About Acupuncture Treatment
Does acupuncture hurt?
Many sites tell you acupuncture doesn’t hurt, but that is not always true. The fact is that the needles themselves rarely hurt going in, what causes sensation is when the needles contact the qi (that energy within the body that we are addressing to help you get well). Some points have an electrical sensation, others a dull, achy feeling, others not much sensation at all. It all varies with the point used and what is going on in your body. Often you can feel the qi moving along the channel we are working on. (Which is really cool!)
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture uses single-use, sterile needles about the diameter of a head hair. (About 18 of these needles can fit into a hypodermic needle that doctors use to give medicine or take blood). There is little to no risk of infection, the needles come sterilized, are used once, and then discarded. They have a handle on them that prevents them from going all the way into the body and getting “lost”, so you don’t have to worry. We use different sizes for different parts of the body. One used on the wrist will be very short, compared to one used on the leg.
What does an initial consultation involve?
An initial consultation is 30+ minutes. The consultation generally takes about 30+ minutes and does not include a treatment. During this time, your acupuncturist will review your medical history, discuss your health goals, and recommend a treatment plan for you. It is an in-depth consultation because we understand that everything that’s happened to you over the years impacts what is happening to you today. How your digestion is doing may very well have to do with your back pain. It’s all connected and we look at the entire picture. For example, a head injury when you were 5 years old can cause headaches at 50. As we go over your intake we will ask questions to get more details and then we will take your pulses at the wrist and look at your tongue.
How long does an acupuncture procedure take?
Treatments are typically 30-60 minutes. We check in with you, discuss changes and improvements since your last treatment, and how you are feeling today. You will then receive treatment. The needles usually stay in for an average of 20 -30 minutes. If moxa, cupping, or tuina are included in your care plan that will be added as part of your treatment.
How long does it take to get results?
Treatment frequency is as variable as people are! So much depends on what is wrong, how acute it is, how long it’s been going on, etc. If you’ve had a problem for 30 years, it will take more than one treatment to get your body back on track. If you have an acute sudden injury or illness, often only a few treatments can get you back in the game. The joy of acupuncture is it has a host of side “benefits” rather than side effects. You come in for knee or back pain and after several treatments not only is your pain better but your insomnia, your acid reflux, or mood swings have improved and you feel better overall!
How often should I get an acupuncture treatment?
We recommend committing to at least six treatments to adequately address your problem. More is better and we often recommend you come in two or more times a week in the beginning because each treatment builds on the next one. We are retraining your body to behave in a new, healthy way. Remember, you didn’t get this way in a day and we can’t fix you in an hour!
What does acupuncture help with?
The easy answer is EVERYTHING!, but, please see our acupuncture common conditions page for more details.
What should I expect during my first treatment and how should I prepare?
First, remember it is not good to come to acupuncture on an empty stomach or an overly full stomach. Try to eat a little snack before your treatment.
After your consultation, you will get on the treatment table. You usually do not have to get undressed but it is helpful if you wear clothes that allow access to your arms and legs. (Tight leg jeans are not recommended, sweatpants or yoga pants are best.) We may palpate you to get an idea of where you are tight and where you have pain.
When you are treated with the needles, remember, these are tiny, solid, sterile, single-use needles! There is little to no chance of infection. We use a small gauge needle so you don’t feel it and it rarely hurts when it goes in. You may feel something upon the arrival of qi (deqi) to the needle such as tingling, achy, electrical, heavy, dull, etc. It’s different for every person, point, and situation. That is when you know that energy is moving, things are shifting and healing is happening. If anything is too uncomfortable we will adjust the needles or pull them out. It’s very important to let us know because nothing should hurt after your needles are in.
We turn down the lights and let you rest for approximately 20-30 minutes. This is a good time to listen to your body, feel the energy moving, or just rest. It is often an intense relaxation experience.
After, we come in and pull the needles out, (they are disposed of directly into a Sharp’s container) and see how you’re feeling. When you’re finished, we’ll schedule your next appointment and you go on to have a wonderful day! It is recommended that you don’t do anything too strenuous or crazy right after a treatment. If you are too relaxed or lightheaded it is good to wait a few minutes before you attempt to drive.
We recommend staying hydrated post treatment and the next day.
Can I receive acupuncture while under a doctor's care?
Yes! Acupuncture and Western care can and should work together! We will not advise you to stop medication or change anything without the consent and knowledge of your primary practitioner. We want to work in concert with your doctor to help you get well. Many times the goal of treatment may be to get off of medications and that should be done under your doctor’s guidance as you improve. We follow in the tradition of Van Nghi who was insistent that Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine were not separate scientific pursuits, but that there was One Medicine.