Acupuncture Treatments
Is Acupuncture painful?
No. Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection. The needles are very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a human hair. Needles are not usually felt at all and sometimes they may illicit a sensation usually described as a distending feeling around the point, a sense of warmth or even a slight flow of energy at the point(s). There should be no burning or sharp type pain with insertion of the needle. Insertion performed by a skilled practitioner is without discomfort.
What if I don’t like needles?
You may ask the doctor to perform a treatment using a pressing probe, which applies pressure to the point. There are also other techniques available to the well-trained TCM doctor, such as cupping, moxibustion, and herbal therapy. You may also consider some of the different forms of massage, such as Tui Na.
How long do the needles stay in each point, and how long will an appointment take?
Depending upon the style the TCM doctor is performing, and your condition, the needles may stay in for just a few seconds up to several minutes. The typical length of treatment is 45 to 60 minutes.
Can I receive acupuncture while on Western medication?
Yes. Acupuncture will not interfere with drug medications. In fact, it can enhance the positive actions of the drug and reduce the side effects..
Why does the doctor treat different points from one treatment to the next?
Your treatment and condition are constantly changing in some way. It is not like a pharmaceutical where a single drug treats all people with a similar disease. Each time a patient arrives, the TCM doctor will re-evaluate his/her condition. Depending upon what he finds, he may use similar points or may use totally different ones. Further to this point, one individual may present similar symptoms as another person, but receive a completely different treatment. There is no standardized treatment from a holistic perspective.
