Q: Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is not painful. You may feel a slight pinch as the needles are first put in and then you may feel heaviness, tingling, warmth, or a sensation of movement circulating along the acupuncture channels. Most people find their mind and body become extremely relaxed during treatment. Some people may even fall asleep.
Q: Where do you put the needles?
Acupuncture needles are inserted in points located around the body. Most points are located on “channels” or “meridians” that flow through the body carrying qi (energy), blood and nourishment. Needles are inserted into specific points in order to tell the body how to regulate itself and regain a harmonious yin/yang balance.
Q: How many needles will I get?
Acupuncturists may use as few as 3 needles or as many as 20 needles depending on the patient’s presentation.
Q: Are the needles clean?
Acupuncture needles are sterilized, single-use, stainless steel, and hair-thin. After each treatment, all needles are disposed of.
Q: What is acupuncture good for?
Acupuncture can provide relief and healing for many kinds of conditions and diseases — from back pain and other injuries to digestive and autoimmune disorders. See our Services page for details. You can also view a complete list at Acupuncture.com’s Conditions A-Z.
Q: How soon can I expect to see results?
Some patients feel an immediate reduction in their symptoms, for others it may take a few treatments. If you are not seeing results after 6 treatments, we will refer you to another practitioner or a different type of medicine that may serve you better.
Q: How many times do I have to visit?
Acute disorders respond quickly to acupuncture, so 2-3 visits over two weeks may be all that is needed. For chronic diseases that need a longer course of treatment, one visit per week for 3-6 months may be required. Usually after six treatments we will know whether or not acupuncture is working for your condition.
Q: Will insurance cover this?
Insurance companies in New England are increasingly covering acupuncture. If your insurance company does cover treatment, we would be happy to provide you with the necessary paperwork to get reimbursed.
Q: How can Chinese herbs help me?
Taking herbs daily increases the duration and depth of effectiveness of an acupuncture session. They represent a time-honored tradition of gently altering a patient’s condition to correct long standing diseases and disharmonies. They work to restore balance at the deepest levels. Herbal formulas may be prescribed as tea pills, granules, or teas.
Q: Do herbs taste terrible?
Traditional boiled herbs can have a very strong smell and taste, but our granule pharmacy provides patients a safe, convenient and much better tasting option. Many formulas contain ginger, cinnamon, cloves or mint. Most patients actually enjoy taking their herbs, especially because of the feeling of wellness they bring about.
Q: Are herbs safe? What if I am taking other medication?
Our practitioners are trained in the safe use of herbal medicines both alone and in the presence of biomedical drugs. Our integrative training includes a Master’s of Science degree, with extensive training in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry, as well as traditional uses and modern understandings of our traditional pharmacopoeia. We participate in continuing education events and study new publications to maintain an up-to-the-moment perspective on these ancient and time-tested therapies.
