What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a centuries old medical practice originating in China, based on the observation that inserting very thin, solid needles under the skin, can be helpful in relieving pain and other medical conditions.

Acupuncture works on the principal of correcting imbalances in the body’s flow of energy through the use of multiple techniques of unblocking energy “channels”, often referred to as “meridians”.

The purist approach of acupuncture is without drugs or herbal formula. It is simply helping the body to heal, naturally.

What conditions is acupuncture used for?

Acupuncture is generally used for painful conditions, whether acute or chronic. Specifically, it has beneficial effects in musculoskeletal and nerve pain. In addition, it can be used to treat almost all of the maladies that are seen in a general practitioner’s office on a day to day basis. Its effects on hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, and diabetes are not sufficently strong enough to be primary therapies.

If in doubt about whether your condition can be treated by acupuncture, please call us for a free phone consultation.

Can Acupuncture help me?

Very likely, yes. However, it may not help you in the way that you are expecting, especially in chronic illnesses. Keep in mind that there are many symptoms of energy blockage, some conditions may respond better to our treatments.

What if I don’t believe in acupuncture?

Acupuncture does not require your belief in its powers to work. That being noted, please remember that the mind itself is a powerful healer. A closed mind can slow the ability of acupuncture to work quickly.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Many disciplines of acupuncture concentrate on the patient obtaining the “De Qi” phenomenon during needle insertion or subsequently through manipulation. The sensation is variously described as an “ache”, an “expanding feeling”, or even a “radiating sensation”. However, needle insertion and subsequent manipulation should not cause a lasting “sharp” sensation.

Is it painful?

No. Depending on the specific acupuncture point, during the insertion of the needle, you can expect to feel nothing, a pressure, or a momentary discomfort which is much like the feeling of a small pinch. As above, once the needles are placed, manual stimulation of the needles can feel like an ache or an “expanding” feeling under the skin.

Is it dangerous?

Acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments. As with any invasive treatment, there is a small risk of infection, bleeding, and bruising. The most common side effect is needle shock, which is a vaso-vagal response to the insertion of needles. There have been very few instances of permanent impairment from acupuncture.

What is Medical Acupuncture?

Medical acupuncture is the synergistic combination of conventional acupuncture theories and techniques with modern day Western (allopathic) medical knowledge. Practitioners of Medical Acupuncture are licensed medical doctors in their field (MD, DO, DPM) who have undertaken additional training in acupuncture. With medical acupuncture, the patient receives the best of both worlds – both Eastern and Western diagnosis and treatments.

Where can I learn more about acupuncture?

Please see our links section.