What should I do to prepare for my acupuncture treatment?

It is important that you eat before your acupuncture treatment and are not hungry during you session. Also drink a lot of
water before and after your acupuncture. This will help to flush out toxins from your system.

Does acupuncture hurt?

There is some sensation when the needle is inserted into the skin. The severity of the sensation is different for each
person, but it is generally mild and is very short in duration. Acupuncture should not be painful. When our doctor inserts needles she looks for signs that Qi has arrived by any one of a number of signs.

You may feel a quick prick, dull ache, perhaps a feeling of electricity or tingling, a sensation of heat or cold, or it may just
feel strange. The vast majority of clients report that, they begin to feel a real sense of well-being after treatments.

How long is an acupuncture treatment?

A typical treatment lasts about an hour. Please allow a little bit of extra time so that you do not feel rushed after your
treatment.

How many times do I have to come in for acupuncture?

Each person is different and number of treatments depends on what type of problem you are coming in to treat. Generally
the longer you have had a problem the more treatments it will take to resolve it. For most people they will begin to see some results after 5 treatments.

Are there any side effects from acupuncture?

Acupuncture is very safe. The most common side effects from an acupuncture treatment are bruising and bleeding. Some people experience a feeling of euphoria after their first treatment, which will last about 30 minutes. Rarely some people experience flu like symptoms for 24 hours after their first acupuncture treatment as their body flushes out toxins. Other possible side effects include light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, nerve damage, allergic reaction, pneumothorax, etc.
Acupuncture is a gentle and effective method of treatment. The vast majority of patients find that treatments are relaxing and causes minimal discomfort.

A study by Ernst et al(1) published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine had reviewed over 3000 acupuncture
treatments to see what types of adverse effects occur and the rate of occurrence:

• A small amount of bleeding may appear at the needle site. This was more likely to occur in patients taking aspirin. Bleeding usually stop within minutes after removing the needles (2.9% of patients experienced this).
  
• Small bruises (usually with bleeding) may appear but usually disappears within a few days (2.2% of patients experienced this).
  
• Fatigue after acupuncture treatments (1.4% of patients experienced this).
  
• Pain while needle is in place (0.9% of patients experienced this).or after removal (0.4% of patients experienced this). The pains are low-level and short term, often dissipating after 5 minutes.
  
• Feeling of tingling (0.5% of patients experienced this).
  
• Nausea, although rare have been reported in 0.2% of patients experienced this. Fainting another rare even occurs in 0.1% of patients.
  

REFERENCE
Ernst G, Strzyz H, Hagmeister H. Incidence of adverse effects during acupuncture therapy - a multicenter survey. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2003;11:93-7.

How many treatments will I need?

Depending on your ailment and your present health status the number of treatments varies. Some individual may find immediate relief while others may take more time.
You may need to have treatments twice a week or only monthly maintenance visits.

How will I feel?

During the treatment you may feel energized or deeply relaxed.

Will my insurance cover acupuncture?

Most insurance companies provide acupuncture in their benefits package. Please contact your insurance provider to learn more about your coverage.

How does our acupuncturist manage infection control?

Non-physician acupuncturists are required by law to use disposable one-time-use sterilized needles.
Due to the minimal to no blood loss an acupuncturist is not required to wear gloves.

I have heard that Acupuncture can be dangerous, is it true?

With a trained and skilled practitioner acupuncture can be perfectly safe.
Needling sensitive parts of the body such as the scrotum, vulva, anus, navel, nipples and eyeballs are strictly prohibited.

I have heard that Acupuncture is great for pain, is it good for anything else?

Acupuncture is a complete medical system in itself and can treat extensive ailments. Furthermore acupuncture can be an excellent complement to traditional medicine and surgery, homeopathy, massage, chiropractic as well as herbal therapies.
As with all systems of medicine acupuncture has its limitations, for example it cannot cure diabetes.

Will Acupuncture interfere with my medications?

Acupuncture does not react with your medications. It may in fact help your medication work more efficiently since
Acupuncture removes blockages and balance the energetic pathways.

Does cupping hurt?

Cupping produces a pulling sensation, but typically does not hurt.

How long will I have the marks from cupping?

Cupping marks are usually gone within one week, but can last up to three weeks. The length of time will depend on how
dark they get and your constitution.