Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve function. This is done by inserting sterilized, stainless-steel needles into specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to treat a wide variety of illnesses.

Your practitioner will make a Chinese medical diagnosis based upon a thorough examination and consultation. The examination includes the assessment of the pulse and tongue. Once a diagnosis is made, your acupuncturist will choose the most appropriate acupuncture points for treatment. 

The basic foundation for Oriental medicine is that there is a life energy flowing through the body which is termed Qi (pronounced chee). This energy flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.

The most common ailments presented to an acupuncturist tend to be pain related conditions. However, as the public becomes more educated about the efficacies of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, they are seeking treatments for many complex conditions with good results; including the following:

Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders

• Arthritis

• Neuralgia

• Sciatica

• Back pain

• Bursitis

• Tendonitis

• Stiff neck

• Bell’s palsy

• Trigeminal neuralgia

• Headaches and Migraines 

Some of the risks mentioned below are EXTREMELY RARE! 

Precautions & Contraindications:

1.) It is contraindicated to needle the abdomen and lumbosacral areas of pregnant women 

2.) Avoid blood vessels to prevent bleeding

3.) Points on the chest and back should be carefully needled to avoid injury to organs 

Risks:

1.) Bruising 

2.) Fainting

3.) Muscle Spasms

4.) Bleeding

5.) Nerve Damage

6.) Punctured Lung

7.) Accidental Injury to organs (Brain, Spinal Cord, Heart, Liver, Spleen, Kidney)

Acupuncture treatments vary depending upon the length, number and frequency of treatments. will vary. A consultation with an experienced practitioner about you and your condition will offer the best guide for the length of treatment. 

Typical treatments last from 20 to 60 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. 

Generally, acute problems require less time and frequency of treatment. For example, an acute sprain may require only one treatment, whereas more chronic or severe ailments may require several (or several dozen) treatments. 

Positive results are generally seen after the first to fourth treatment. You will schedule your appointments further and further apart after you have achieved optimal response. 

Many people see their acupuncturist only 2-4 times a year for a “tune up”.