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| What conditions can acupuncture treat? Does it hurt? What can I expect during a treatment? How long does it take? Is this treatment covered by my insurance company? How does it work? What conditions can acupuncture treat? Acupuncture textbooks list well over one hundred different conditions that respond well to acupuncture. The World Health Organization also officially recognizes acupuncture as a safe, effective, drug-free therapy, which can address a wide range of common aliments and problems. It has been proven effective in treating the following conditions, among others: |
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Does it hurt? Acupuncture needles are tiny, and slender. Most people compare the sensation of an acupuncture needle insertion to the feeling of getting “a mosquito bite”. Next, a phenomenon referred to as de qi (da chee) occurs when the energy is contacted. This is experienced as mild to moderate heaviness or tingling. Acupressure patients generally feel slight tenderness, tingling or aching during a treatment. Back to top What can I expect during a treatment? At the beginning of the initial appointment, you will complete a health history questionnaire. Then, you will be interviewed about your primary health concerns, lifestyle, diet, emotions, sleep, appetite, digestion, stress, etc. Observation of your tongue and pulse analysis will help to complete the process of establishing a working diagnosis. Acupuncture points appropriate to your specific complaint will be selected. The treatment itself lasts approximately 25 minutes. In addition to being prescribed a herbal formula, you will also be given some lifestyle and nutrition recommendations to help you achieve better health. Back to top How long does it take? A normal course of treatment is one treatment per week, for 10-12 weeks. Depending on the severity of the complaint, several courses of treatment may be necessary. The first treatment, which includes the initial consultation, usually takes an hour and a half to complete. Subsequent treatments last approximately one hour. Back to top Is this treatment covered by my insurance company? Most private insurance companies cover $500 per year for acupuncture and herbal medicine. Patients will be reimbursed for the amount by submitting a receipt from a qualified practitioner. Back to top How does it work? In the context of Eastern medicine, acupuncture points are gateways that allow us to affect the flow of energy (qi) along the meridians. Acupuncture stimulates the qi to move to areas where it is deficient and away from areas where it is in excess, which helps to regulate and restore the energetic balance of the entire body. Researchers specializing in Western medicine explain that acupuncture works because it stimulates the body to produce chemicals called endorphins. This is significant because endorphins are natural pain relievers; they help to block pathways in the nervous system that relay pain messages from the body to the brain. In addition to pain relief, the production of endorphins induces a biochemical restoration of the body's own internal regulation systems; this accelerates the body's natural healing abilities, reduces inflammation, strengthens the immune system and promotes physical and emotional well-being. Back to top |
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