Acupuncture & Traditional Asian Medicine
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
Acupuncture is a form of therapy within Traditional Chinese Medicine that promotes natural healing of the body. The science and art of acupuncture involves insertion of needles into specific points along the meridians (pathways) of the body. Once the needles are inserted, they stimulate movement of qi (energy source), blood, and body fluids to reverse disease causing imbalances and establish balance within the body’s system. Currently, acupuncture is a safe and effective natural therapy and an increasingly popular form of healthcare that is used worldwide in diverse populations.
The major benefits of Acupuncture are:
Effectively treats many common ailments
Drug-free pain relief
Assists in disease prevention
Treats the cause and symptoms of illness or disease
Holistic approach to illness, treating the body, mind, and spirit
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL ASIAN MEDICINE?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back to over 5,000 years ago in China and has developed widely throughout other Asian countries and cultures. Whereas TCM is considered a standardized version of the type of Chinese medicine practiced before the Chinese Revolution, Asian/Oriental medicine is a catch-all phrase for the styles of acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage and exercise that have been developed and practiced not only in Asia, but world-wide.
The underlying theories and principles of TCM are founded on the belief that we live in a universe in which everything is interconnected. What happens to one part of the body affects every other part of the body, and what happens in our outside world also affects the body. The most fundamental concept of the interconnect relationship is “Yin-Yang,” two opposing yet inseparable forces. When there is significant imbalance between the two, there is disorder. Within Asian medicine, the objective is to restore balance between Yin and Yang through various methods of treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, tui na, qi gong, moxibustion, gua sha, and more. Asian medicine practitioners work to identify the source of imbalance within the body and utilize these techniques to restore proper bodily functions.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide range of ailments and diseases over millennia. The World Health Organization recognized the ability of acupuncture and Oriental medicine to treat nearly four dozen common ailments, including neuromusculoskeletal conditions (such as arthritis, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and neck/shoulder pain); emotional and psychological disorders (such as depression and anxiety); circulatory disorders (such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia); addictions to alcohol, nicotine and other drugs; respiratory disorders (such as emphysema, sinusitis, allergies and bronchitis); and gastrointestinal conditions (such as food allergies, ulcers, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, intestinal weakness, anorexia and gastritis).
In 1997, a consensus statement released by the National Institutes of Health found that acupuncture could be useful by itself or in combination with other therapies to treat addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and asthma. Other studies have demonstrated that acupuncture may help in the rehabilitation of stroke patients and can relieve nausea in patients recovering from surgery.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
The Healing Sp-ce is intentional about creating service fees that make alternative healthcare more accessible than average providers. Currently, The Healing Sp-ce is not in contract with insurance companies, and is considered an “out-of-network provider.” We will gladly provide you with a superbill that you may submit directly to your insurance company, which in turn might reimburse you directly. Please contact your insurance company to find out what types of acupuncture services are covered under your policy. Since we do not bill insurance, all payments for services are due when services are rendered. The following forms of payment are accepted: Visa, Master Card, American Express, personal checks or cash. Thank you.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The number of treatments will depend on your chief complaint and the severity. During your appointment, we will work together to determine a treatment plan that best supports your condition as well as your lifestyle. Generally, acute conditions require frequent treatments like 1-2x/week for less than a month, and long-term conditions require weekly treatment over 10-12 weeks. For many conditions you will notice results right away, and for other chronic conditions it may take up to 10 treatments to begin seeing change.
CAN ACUPUNCTURE HELP ME IF I'M GENERALLY HEALTHY?
Yes! Asian medicine optimizes health and prevents disease. It is prided on treating subtle imbalances before they manifest as symptoms, providing for true and powerful preventive medicine. The superior doctors are those who treat disease before it manifests!
DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?
Most patients find acupuncture relaxing and soothing and some even fall asleep during treatments. Acupuncture needles are very fine (size of a strand of hair) solid sterilized needles. They are very different from the hollow syringes you encounter in Western medicine offices. While there can be a sensation with the superficial insertion of acupuncture needles it is not described as pain. You may feel a slight pinching sensation that lasts for seconds and goes away.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
There are no major side effects to acupuncture. Most people report feeling euphoric and extremely relaxed after acupuncture- we call this an “acu high.” Occasionally there may be a small drop of blood when the needles are removed, slight bruising may occur at the site of needle insertion, or there may be achiness or heaviness in the same area. These occurrences may last for a few days after treatment and then resolve on their own. It is a result of qi (energy source) moving and restoring balance in the body.
CAN CHILDREN GET ACUPUNCTURE?
Children of any age can benefit from acupuncture. Children’s conditions change much faster than adults and thus they respond well to treatment. If acupuncture is not desired, other methods such as acupressure (pressing on acu points) can be used.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN MY TREATMENT?
During your appointment, we will discuss your main concerns, health history, tongue and pulse examination. We then proceed with your acupuncture treatment which may include moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, and/or tui na based on your needs. Our discussion also includes herbal medicine, supplements, nutrition, exercise, and/or meditation as needed. Herbal Consultation appointments focus only on the latter modalities.