Frequently Asked Questions
How many treatments are typically needed?
Some patients notice results after the first treatment. For more complex conditions or long-term chronic injuries or illness, treatment may take longer. For acute issues, treatment may be recommended 1-2x/week at first until major symptoms subside. Typically 1x/week for 6 weeks is a good place to start in order to achieve more lasting change and results. Maintenance treatments are always a great way to stay regulated and maintain health to prevent illness. Herbs are extremely valuable for taking treatment home with you for between acupuncture appointments.
Think of it like this... if you didn't develop it overnight, it probably won't be cured overnight, BUT, it is possible!
Do you accept insurance?
No. But, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can often be used for acupuncture and other therapies deemed "alternative". I can provide you with a receipt of the appointment for you to submit to your insurance company for their approval.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very thin, and patients often say they feel relaxed after the treatment. The answer is:
yes and no. . A needle is piercing your skin. Sometimes you feel it. Sometimes you don't.
Overall, honestly, it depends on how sensitive you are to the qi sensation at various points. I wouldn't say it is painful, but any acupuncturist who says that most people "barely feel the needles" is probably giving you a certain style of treatment with very limited benefits. Most people should experience sensations such as aching, heaviness, twitches, tingling, itching, pinprick, or pressure either at the point or the channel. These sensations are known as De Qi, meaning the Qi had been obtained. Some say that if the De Qi is not obtained, the treatment will be ineffective. However, if you are the type of person who is sensitive to needles and can't stand the idea of feeling these sensations then I can use different needles and we will operate off the premise of there being many schools of thought on how acupuncture works. No problem!
Cupping and gua sha, and sometimes acupuncture, may cause temporary bruising that usually fades within a week.
Do herbs work?
Definitely!!
Herbal medicine packs a punch to your acupuncture treatment and carries the treatment principles along home with you instead of regulating the body just on the table. But, they only work if you take them as prescribed!
How does acupuncture work?
Chinese Medicine works on the principle of balancing the body's function through manipulating qi, which travels throughout the body along meridians. The flow of qi keeps the body balanced and in state of health. However, if the flow of this energy becomes "blocked", like water getting trapped behind a dam, the blockage can cause pain, dysfunction, and disease. Acupuncture is used to release blocked qi in the body and stimulate the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. It affects the musculoskeletal system, the endocrine and nervous systems, organs, glands, and body tissues as well as the emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies.
What is Classical Chinese Medicine? I've heard of TCM, how are they different?
https://classicalchinesemedicine.org/articles/introduction-classical-chinese-medicine/
https://classicalchinesemedicine.org/chinese-medicine-crisis-science-politics-tcm/
What's the deal on "dry needling" and how does it relate to what you do?
If you are curious about this, I encourage you to please take a few minutes to read this article written by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the licensing board for licensed acupuncturists
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In short, the NCCAOM has stated:
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"NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturists™ receive hundreds of hours in the core skills required to correctly perform invasive and potentially dangerous needling techniques, assuring their competencies to insert and manipulate acupuncture needles safely.
Is there a required accredited academic program for the training of physical therapists to practice dry needling acupuncture?
There is no national standard entry-level academic curriculum that offers training or education in any form
of needling for physical therapists. The only training in dry needling acupuncture for physical therapists
are abbreviated continuing education workshops. There are no minimum hours or curriculum standards
for these workshops."
