Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the questions below to get the answers.

Acupuncture is an effective, safe, and drug-free method of addressing many ailments in the body, including pain, internal disharmony, and emotional distress. The acupuncturist places fine needles in specific points in the body to help the autonomic nervous system reset, boosting the immune system and helping the patient move toward optimum health. A U.S. Health and Human Services website article suggests that acupuncture is helpful in most medical situations. An NIH researcher states: “In many research studies, it’s clear that if you’re comparing acupuncture to usual care, the acupuncture group almost always does better.”

Most people associate needles with thick, unbendable hypodermic needles that are used to administer shots. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin and flexible, similar to a horse hair. The needles are constructed to make insertion painless and often undetectable by the patient. After insertion, the acupuncturist will stimulate the needle to either disperse blockages or to nify areas needing more energy. During the stimulation, the patient might feel tingling, warmth, itching, heaviness, or a strong sense of movement. These responses are desirable and are all signs that the treatment is working. Because acupuncture stimulates the limbic system, which is like a reset for the nervous system, patients typically experience a feeling of deep relaxation during and after treatment.

Only sterile, disposable, single-use needles are used. Harmful side effects from acupuncture are extremely rare when the acupuncture is performed by a licensed, nationally board-certified acupuncturist.

Medical doctors in the United States can be licensed to practice acupuncture after having completed a 300-hour medical acupuncture course. Acupuncturists receiving a Master of Science in Acupuncture have completed over 3000 hours of clinical and didactic course work. Because of this, the theory and practice of acupuncture can be quite different between a regular acupuncturist and a medical doctor or chiropractor practicing acupuncture. The experience of the patient and the results can be
astoundingly different.

Yes. Acupuncture can be used safely in conjunction with Western medicine, chiropractic, and osteopathic adjustments. It is important to inform the acupuncturist of all medications and methods of treatment, so that the information can be used to formulate the most effective treatment.

Please be sure to complete your intake paperwork prior to your initial visit. Please eat a small meal at least an hour before treatment, and be sure to drink plenty of water.

When a muscle has been in the habit of being in spasm, it can take a few treatments before the muscle knows it is ok for it to relax. Often, someone will feel much better or even pain-free several days following treatment; however, a few days later, it feels like the pain is creeping back in. That is because the muscle has been in the habit of being contracted, and it wants to go back to that habit. It just needs to be reminded that it is ok to relax. So it needs follow-up treatments to remind the muscle repeatedly that it is ok to relax. The length of time a patient is pain-free or experiencing less pain is stretched out with each subsequent treatment. When the pain comes back, it is usually less intense and less frequent. Eventually, the muscle gets the message and relaxes, allowing the pain to be resolved.

It is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Pants should go easily above the knee. A loose neck shirt is best. Some people opt to wear what they like and just get down to their underwear and go under the sheet on the table.

Dry needling is a name given to a technique used by physical therapists and chiropractors who have not been trained in acupuncture, but use acupuncture needles to initiate a spasm in the muscle so the muscle will ultimately relax.

Another name for dry needling when done by a licensed acupuncturist is trigger point release. I have a master’s degree from a school that specializes in trigger point release.

A trigger point is a part of a skeletal muscle that is chronically in spasm and does not release. They are often palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. People can experience a trigger point as a chronically tight muscle, but they often feel pain in the joint. When a muscle is chronically tight, the fibers become taught bands, which ultimately put immense pressure on the tendons which attach to the bone. Because of this people feel the discomfort at the joint. The western medicine diagnosis is tendinitis or bursitis. With a trigger point release this pain can often be resolved.

During our treatment, a trigger point is released, and you may feel the muscle “jump” or spasm a few times when the needle is inserted. It will often start to feel a little bit achy while you are retaining the needles. When the treatment is over, you might feel sore for a day or two, as if you have completed a heavy workout. On day 3, people usually feel the relief that has come from having the trigger point released.

Cups are applied to the skin, and a suction is created, pulling the skin up. It’s meant to increase blood flow to certain areas of the body. This technique often leaves a circular mark on the skin that does not hurt, but resembles a bruise. These marks eventually fade, usually within a week.

Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called “moxa” are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences.

Yes. Children often respond easily to acupuncture. I treat infants all the way up to teenagers. See my page about pediatrics. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any additional questions. I look forward to meeting you!

Each person’s response to acupuncture is unique to them. Some people respond immediately, and some take a few visits to start seeing changes. In general, acute conditions (those developed within the last 3 months) usually only take a few consecutive treatments to clear up. With chronic conditions, those the patient has experienced for longer than 3 months, treatment can take a longer period of time to clear. The patient will likely, however, start seeing some change within a few treatments.