Acupuncture FAQs
WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is a documented medical practice with 2,500 years of documented history. There are some indications that it has been practiced for up to 5,000 years. The basis of acupuncture is that illness comes from the body being out of balance and that it can be returned to balance with acupuncture, herbs, qi gong and massage techniques. Acupuncture includes placing and gently stimulating small needles into specific places of your body. It may also include other therapies based on your condition.
HOW SAFE IS ACUPUNCTURE?
FDA approved acupuncture needles are factory sterilized and disposed of after use. Needles have no coating on them and do not contain any substance. Licensed acupuncturists are fully trained in anatomy and acupuncture point location, maximizing your safety. In addition, acupuncturists are trained and nationally certified in Clean Needle Technique.
ARE NEEDLES INSERTED INTO NERVES?
No. It is a common mis-conception that acupuncture involves inserting needles into nerves. Typically, needles are inserted into safe areas within the skin and muscles avoiding nerves, veins and arteries, and vital organs.
WHAT WILL YOU FEEL?
Acupuncture needles are less than 1/10th the thickness of the typical hypodermic needle. When inserted, you may experience a variety of sensations including: a heaviness, achiness, mild cramping, warmth or tingling near or along the meridians of the acupuncture point. These sensations are known as “de Qi” or “arrival of Qi” in oriental medicine and are an indication that your body is responding to the treatment. Most people find the overall experience relaxing both during and after the treatment.
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
According to Chinese medical theory, health disorders occur when Qi your “Life Force” becomes blocked, diminished, or redirected. Acupuncture removes restrictions allowing for smooth flow of Qi through fourteen major pathways known as the “meridians” in your body. The Acupuncturist is trained in the discovery of unbalanced Qi and the selection of acupuncture points along your meridians that have specific therapeutic functions. Small acupuncture needles are inserted into the points promoting Qi flow through the meridians of the body with the intent to stimulate your body, release energy blocks and reestablish balance. Manipulation of Qi to restore balance allows your body to carry out its proper functions eliminating undesirable symptoms and discomfort. The body subsequently adjusts to a healthy state of balance, and for this reason acupuncture treatment is often described as Awakening the Intelligence of the Body. From a Western medical perspective, acupuncture therapy increases blood flow to speed up healing and stimulates hormonal changes. The effectiveness of pain control is thought to be due to a release of endorphins in the body and a result of relaxing tight muscles.
DO THE NEEDLES HURT?
If you’ve never seen an acupuncture needle up close, you are in for a surprise. They are MUCH thinner and more flexible than you probably imagined … so fine in fact that the reason you don’t feel them being inserted is that they actually slide through the pores of your skin, and the depth to which they are inserted is very close to the surface. They are much smaller than the width of the opening of a standard hypodermic needle. Rob is often told by patients that they can’t feel the needles at all! The needles used at The Atlantic Center are sterile, single-use, disposable needLes.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Dress comfortably for your acupuncture treatment. Most points used at the Atlantic Center are from the knees down and from the elbows done with occasional point on the head and neck. So, loose fitting clothing should be fine. You’ll be lying on a table for about 1/2 an hour; blankets are provided for those who get cold easily.
HOW LONG WILL A TREATMENT TAKE?
A treatment usually lasts about 1/2 an hour though, when needed, more time is taken to discuss the details of your situation. For an initial consultation, plan for 1 full hour for us to gather your health history, to create a treatment plan specific to your condition, and an initial treatment.
WHERE DOES THE ACUPUNCTURIST PUT THE NEEDLES?
Placement of the needles depends on your condition and will vary from one visit to another depending on your condition and the progress we make. Typically, we use about 6-10 needles per treatment.