FAQ
•What is Acupuncture and how does it really work?
Acupuncture is a therapy in which the bodies own healing and repair mechanisms are activated with the painless insertion of fine needles into specific areas of the body. Healthy bodily processes gradually shut down or are rendered ineffective at maintaining well being due to several circumstances. Overwork, repetitive motion, poor food choices, normal aging events, poor posture, inappropriate use of over the counter medications, disrupted sleep cycles, excessive emotions, and external factors such as weather and trauma all contribute to the generation and continuation of illness. Acupuncture triggers the bodies natural capacity for self healing by helping to restore the balance of organ systems, muscle function, blood flow, and immune response.

No longer is the placebo response cited as the reason for acupuncture's effectiveness. Biomedical and radiological sciences have identified the brain as playing the central role in the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. Known as the Broad Sense-Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA). The model incorporates the stress-induced HPA together with neuro-immune interaction and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory models. This means that systems in your body regulating everything from digestion, respiration, blood circulation and thousands of other precise events are positively influenced with the insertion of fine needles into specific areas on your body. The central nervous system responds to the painless multiple needling procedure by sending neuro and chemical signals back into every area of your body, triggering a dynamic healing response.

•How long has Acupuncture been around?
The history of Acupuncture and its fundamental teachings were established no less than 2,600 years ago. One of the first texts, The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic, elucidates the concepts and precepts that where to become the foundation of a system of medicine that has helped more people than any other healing modality in the world. Acupuncture is now practiced in almost every country in the world, while many hospitals are now using acupuncture for outpatient services.

•What about safety, side effects and the comfort of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is very safe. Millions of acupuncture treatments are performed around the world with the number of needles used easily reaching the hundreds of millions. Safety is a key as the student must pass a separate, extensive National examination process in what is called,
Clean Needle Technique. In the US all acupuncturists must use single-use disposable needles. Side effects are mild and uncommon, ranging from small bruises to short term drowsiness. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, the hair thin needle is almost imperceptible. Sometimes a momentary pinch is felt, like a mosquito bite. Patients often describe a twitch, a warm feeling, a pressure or moving sensation at the site of the needle. It is very common to fall asleep during a session. Usually a calm, centered, or even a mild euphoric affect is felt immediately following an acupuncture session.

•What type of clothing should I wear?
Loose comfortable clothing is best; slacks, exercise clothing, shorts and tank tops are all appropriate. In a hospital setting, you may have the option of wearing a gown. It is never necessary to be fully undressed.

•Do I need to believe in acupuncture in order for it to work? Is the placebo effect taking place?
No. Any therapy, whether a visit to a psychologist, your doctor, a surgical procedure, taking a pill, or an acupuncture treatment may stimulate reward centers in the brain and produce a level of improved well being. Extensive research carried out in 1970s and 80s ruled out placebo as acupuncture’s main therapeutic benefit. When naloxone, an endorphin antagonist, was administered intravenously, all previously observed physiological events were inhibited. This reproducible study and many cross studies using variables and control groups proved unequivocally that endorphin activity at opioid sites is just one of acupuncture therapeutic mechanisms.

•What is the duration of a session and how many sessions can I expect to have for my condition?
Acupuncture treatments average 25 to 45 minutes and may include two sets – needling both the front and the back of the body. It is best to plan on scheduling 7 to 10 sessions when beginning. This helps to establish the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture for your condition. Two factors determine therapeutic efficacy: the strength of the disorder and the healing capacity of the patient. Often times there is no immediate relief after a treatment, the effects may take a few days to begin working. Acupuncture is thought to have a cumulative effect where each treatment builds on the previous. In some cases noticeable results are not experienced until the second or third visit. In still fewer cases and complex illnesses there may be no noticeable benefits even after 7 or 8 sessions. Thus, is it important to communicate to your acupuncturist how you feel from visit to visit so they may make any necessary changes to the acupuncture protocol. Your acupuncture session may include the use of cupping, electroacupuncture, a scraping or rubbing technique called guasha, direct heat and auricular needling. Your therapist will tell you about these if used and rarely influence the cost.