What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture uses specially placed thin needles to enhance the natural healing ability of the body.  Acupuncture needles are about half the size of the smallest sized needles used for injection.  In contrast to a needle used for injections, which is hollow with a cutting tip, an acupuncture needle is solid and smooth.

The Food and Drug Administration considers acupuncture needles to be legitimate medical instruments.  The National Institute of Health has endorsed the use of acupuncture for many conditions, states that acupuncture is no less effective than many other modalities offered for various conditions, and has a low risk profile.

Acupuncture has developed in many countries, over many centuries, with many different technique styles evolving.  Methods include “Traditional Chinese”, Five Element”, “Six Energy”, dermatomal, ear, hand, scalp acupuncture, and others.  No single method is superior, though different styles may better suit different patients or different problems.  Different practitioners often feel an affinity for a particular technique based on background and experience.

Use of special electrically conducting pads, electrodes, and magnets can sometimes allow patients to be treated without needles.

Who is qualified to perform Acupuncture?

Practitioners from a number of different backgrounds may offer acupuncture.  A physician-acupuncturist has studied the techniques in addition to obtaining training and licensure in Western medicine.  Non physician acupuncturists are graduates of schools of acupuncture or of oriental medicine.  Acupuncture is taught in various levels of detail in medical schools in China.

How does Acupuncture work?

There are probably several mechanisms of action of acupuncture.  Three basic concepts are commonly used today to explain acupuncture’s benefits:

• Acupuncture alters body chemicals, including stimulating natural painkillers
• Acupuncture sensations affect nerves and cause beneficial reflex responses, and possibly repatterning of the nervous system.
• Acupuncture affects the body’s natural electromagnetic field.

Some skeptics will concede that acupuncture can decrease pain because it has been shown to increase the body’s natural opiates, but they deny that acupuncture can have any effect in other conditions such as asthma, irritable bowel, cardiac disease, and other areas where benefit has been shown.  Research shows though, that the body’s natural opiates have targets for activity not only in the pain modulating area of the central nervous system, but also on peripheral nerve, the lung, the vascular bed, the gut, white blood cells, and numerous other tissues.  So even if the only effect of acupuncture is to increase natural opiate activity, the potential for widespread systemic effects is present.  And acupuncture stimulates many more body chemicals in addition to the endogenous opiate system.

Acupuncture is NOT a placebo.  You need not “believe in “acupuncture for it to work, although a positive attitude during any type of therapy is probably beneficial.

In general, it seems that the body wants to be health, and acupuncture may provide the nudge the body requires to do so.

What are the chances that Acupuncture can help me? How can I expect to feel?

Acupuncture has helped many people who have not responded to conventional medical or surgical management, but there is a tremendous difference in the response to acupuncture from patient to patient.

Some people notice an immediate improvement; some notice a change a day or two after treatment.  Some people are not helped at all.  Some people, who initially think they had no response, notice a delayed improvement several weeks after treatment.

Occasionally, pain is temporarily worse following a treatment.  This not cause for alarm or discouragement.  Worsening of pain may be followed by significant improvement.  Increased pain after treatment also shows that acupuncture can affect your pain and that further treatment has a good chance of decreasing pain.

Everyone needs to be considered on an individual basis and sometimes patience is required as different acupuncture approaches are tried and the body takes it’s time to respond.  Through use of nutritional guidance, botanicals, proper exercise, and stress reduction, we aim to put your body into the best possible state to respond to acupuncture.

How many treatments are given? How often?

Both the number of treatments needed, and the frequency, varies from person to person.  In general, complex or long standing conditions, such as pain of many years, will require one to two treatments a week for several months.  Treatments will often be spaced increasingly far apart as response develops and holds.  Acute problems, such as sprains, usually require fewer visits.  Some people like to return for 4 treatments per year with season changes, to maintain benefits and support general health.

Specific recommendations for number and frequency of treatments are made on an individual basis following a detailed review of your condition, and ongoing evaluation of your response.  Typically, the number of visits recommended is10.  Some people may respond before the 10^th visit while others may require an extended period for treatments.  Basic treatment schedule is 3 times a week for the first two weeks and 2 times a week for two weeks.

Does Acupuncture hurt?

People experience acupuncture differently.  Most feel only minimal pain as needles are placed, others feel no pain.  Once the needles are in position, they should not be painful.  If a needle is causing pain, ask that the needle be checked for repositioning.

After needles are placed you may feel tingling, warmth, dull ache, numbness, or heaviness, either locally or in part of the body distant from the needle.  Needles are sometimes connected to an electrical stimulator, which should cause a comfortable tapping or buzzing sensation.  Some people notice a generalized feeling of relaxation or well being, and find themselves either sleeping or smiling, or both.

What are the possible side effects or complications of Acupuncture?

 Acupuncture can activate chemical, hormonal, and other changes, with change in emotions, sleep patterns, appetite, bowel, or urinary habits.  Occasionally there may be transient worsening of symptoms.  If this occurs it is early in the course of treatment and is followed by significant improvement.  These changes are normal and indicate that your body is responding to treatment.

People often feel deep relaxation or mild disorientation following treatments, especially after the first one or two.  This passes within a short time.  We recommend that you rest in the waiting area after treatment, until you feel ready to leave.  Since these effects are often strongest after the first treatment, you may wish to have someone escort you from the office after your first visit.

People occasionally feel faint during acupuncture, especially at the start of the first treatment.  We suggest that to help avoid faintness, you arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time in order to relax before treatment and that you not hungry at the time of treatment.

Any time a needle is placed in the body; there is risk of bleeding or infection.  Usually you cannot see a mark where the needle was placed but occasionally, a small vessel under the skin may be pricked, resulting in a black and blue mark.

Rarely, infections have occurred following acupuncture, however in all cases, they were traceable to the use of non sterile needles.  At Chiropractic Acupuncture Health Center we use sterile, single use needles.  Rare but serious complications involve puncture of the chest and abdominal organs.

Are there any special instructions I should follow on the day of treatment?

Here are suggestions that will enhance the effects of treatment:

• Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after treatment.
• Avoid over exercise, sexual activity, and alcoholic beverages within 6 hours before or after treatment.
• Plan some rest, or at least having to work at top performance, after treatment, especially after the first few visits.
• Continue to take prescription medications as directed by your regular doctor.
• Substance abuse and smoking will seriously interfere with acupuncture’s effectiveness.
• Observe and keep track of your response to treatment, so that we can better work with you to optimize your therapy.

 Does health insurance cover Acupuncture?

Policies differ among insurance companies.  Check with your insurance company for specifics regarding your coverage.  If you have other questions concerning acupuncture, please do not hesitate to ask.