What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the use of slender painless needles placed inside the skin at various locations to relieve pain or affected body part/function. Asian physicians believe there is an energy network just below the surface of the skin that connects the exterior to the internal organs. This energy works together with the bodies circulatory, nervous, muscular, digestive, and genitourinary systems. When this energy becomes blocked or weekend acupuncture can be used to restore harmony.  Acupuncture is used to restore normalcy to the body’s energy field by stimulating a combination of specific acupuncture points through dry needles.

Is Acupuncture Painful?

Acupuncture needles do NOT require a way to inject fluids, which allows the needles to be much smaller than a hypodermic needle. The sensation can be compared to less than a mosquito bite. Some patients feel tingling (Tehchi) when the energy field is contracted.

What Conditions can be treated?

Acupuncture has an effect on all physiological functions of the complete body allowing results of many conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists over 100 specific pain and organic conditions which specifically respond to acupuncture. [www.IAMA.edu]

The number of treatments vary depending on different conditions and if the conditions are acute or chronic. Some patients will feel immediate improvement after the first treatment, but some patients may not notice any effect until 6-8 visits. Usually patients are treated 2-4 times per week and average of 8-16 visits. Some patients will feel worsening symptoms before having rapid improvement. Patients are strongly urged not to try one or two visits to “see what happens.” Treatment can allow permanent relief, but with chronic conditions the patient may have recurring issues from time to time.