What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

Many people may be unfamiliar with what exactly takes place in an acupuncture session. Wondering what happens during treatment, how many visits may be needed and whether health insurance covers it are all common concerns. In a typical first visit, a practitioner will take a detailed health history, fully investigate your chief complaint and provide acupuncture for you. This may take up to an hour and a half but is necessary to create an individualized treatment plan that takes into account your present physical, emotional, and nutritional condition, while focusing on your main health concern. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles (the width of two human hairs) into specific anatomical points. Return visits to an acupuncturist may also introduce the option of Chinese herbal therapy. Chinese herbal therapy reinforces acupuncture in a natural way without side-effects. The two are often used together to strengthen the effects of treatment and to achieve longer-lasting results in a shorter amount of time.

What does acupuncture treat?

Currently, the NIH has determined that acupuncture is effective in treating over 40 different disease categories. Following is a list of illnesses and conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be effective. It is possible to treat these and many other conditions with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

• Addictions
• Allergies
• Ankle Swelling
• Arm and Shoulder Pain
• Arthritis
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Back Pain
• Bed Wetting
• Blood Pressure
• Bronchial Conditions
• Bursitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Circulatory Issues
• Colds
• Colitis
• Constipation
• Cough
• Depression
• Detox
• Diarrhea
• Diverticulitis
• Dizziness
• Emphysema
• Fatigue
• Feet Pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Flu
• Gall Bladder Disorders
• Gas
• Gynecological Concerns
• Hay Fever
• Headache
• Heart Problems
• Hemorrhoids
• Hip Pain
• Immune System Deficiency
• Indigestion
• Infertility
• Injuries
• Insomnia
• Joint Pain
• Kidney Problems
• Knee Pain
• Leg Pain, Cramps
• Liver Problems
• Neck Pain, Stiffness
• Nervousness
• Neuralgia
• Pain
• Pleurisy
• PMS
• Pregnancy Symptoms
• Prostate Problems
• Rheumatism
• Sciatica
• Shingles
• Shoulder Pain
• Sinus Trouble
• Skin Problems
• Sports Injuries
• Stomach Problems
• Sore Throat
• Thyroid Conditions
• Ulcers
• Urinary Problems
• Whiplash

If you are wondering if acupuncture can help you with a different or specific condition, you can call our clinic to speak with one of the acupuncturists directly.

Does it hurt?

Acupuncture in general is not painful. The needles are extremely thin (about the width of 2 human hairs), solid, disposable and flexible. Sensations that patients normally experience are a dull ache or tingling which is associated with the movement of energy stimulated by the insertion of the needles. This is a desired affect and should not feel painful.

How many visits will I need?

The number of visits you will need depends on several factors. One is how long you have had your current condition. Acute conditions, like a cold or flu will generally only require one or two treatments. Conditions that are more recent, like sudden pain from an injury or seasonal allergies may require 3 or 4 treatments before symptoms are reduced. Chronic conditions like PMS, asthma, back pain or other problems that you have had for many years may take anywhere from 4 to 10 treatments until you notice significant changes. At your first visit, your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history and will determine an appropriate treatment plan based on your signs and symptoms and the findings of that visit.