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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture improves the body’s functions and promotes the natural self healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sites commonly referred to as acupuncture points, or acupoints. The most common method used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe, and the body, in terms of two opposing forces: yin and yang. When these forces are in balance, the body is healthy. Energy, called "qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body. This constant flow of energy keeps the yin and yang forces balanced. However, if the flow of energy gets blocked, like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can lead to pain, lack of function, or illness. Acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. Modern research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on the nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. By stimulating the body’s various systems, acupuncture can help to resolve pain, and improve sleep, digestive function, and sense of well-being.
What happens during an acupuncture treatment?
First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health history. Then, they will examine your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulse, and possibly perform some additional physical examinations depending on your individual health needs. Using these unique assessment tools, the acupuncturist will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan to address your particular condition. To begin the acupuncture treatment, you lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acupoints are stimulated on various areas of your body. Most people feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine needles are gently placed. The needles are usually retained between 15 and 30 minutes. During and after treatments, people report that they feel very relaxed.
What to expect during my initial visit?
All new patients are asked to complete a patient information form and health history. This questionnaire will include questions about your medical history, your family's medical history, and your lifestyle. It is confidential and abides by the laws of HIPAA. When the practitioner arrives at a working diagnosis, she will place you in a comfortable position to insert the needles. After the needles are inserted, you will relax in the treatment room for 30-45 minutes. Your practitioner will then return and take out the needles. After the treatment is over, she may recommend nutrition and lifestyle modifications if they would be helpful to you. First treatments may last up to 90 minutes.
We also may incorporate auricular treatments, cupping, moxibustion, and dietary and lifestyle suggestions into your treatment sessions.
How many treatments will I need?
The frequency and number of treatments differ from person to person. Some people experience dramatic relief in the first treatment. For complex or long standing chronic conditions, one to two treatments per week for several months may be recommended. For acute problems, usually fewer visits are required, usually eight to ten visits in total. An individualized treatment plan that includes the expected number of treatments will be discussed during your initial visit.
What conditions are commonly treated by Acupuncture?
Hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture show that it successfully treats conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems (back pain, neck pain, and others) to nausea, migraine headache, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and problem related to infertility.
Case controlled clinical studies have shown that acupuncture has been an effective treatment for the following diseases, symptoms or conditions:
Acupuncture for fertility and pregnancy
Acupuncture is safe and effective during pregnancy.
Acupuncture is not a substitute for Western prenatal medical care. Instead, it offers complementary care that has many benefits. Since acupuncture has very few side effects, many pregnant women now seek this alternative to drug therapy for a number of common pregnancy complaints. Please consult your medical doctor before seeking complementary care.
Studies have shown acupuncture to be effective for stress, headaches, morning sickness, hip and low back pain, breech position, and mild to moderate depression. And research is now focusing on the routine use of acupuncture to enhance wellness during pregnancy and labor.
Acupuncture may also help with fertility. Studies show that acupuncture can increase the chances that assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will result in a live birth by 10 to 15 percent or more, for example.
A search of peer-reviewed scientific studies doesn't unearth a single study that points to any increased risk from the use of acupuncture in pregnancy or labor. A 2002 study conducted at the Women's & Children's Hospital at Adelaide University in Australia on the safety of acupuncture for nausea in early pregnancy verified that there is no increased risk of congenital anomalies, miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, premature birth, or normal measures of neonatal health (such as maturity or birth weight) when women receive acupuncture during pregnancy.
The study was conducted during the first trimester of pregnancy, when fetal development is most vulnerable. These results have been replicated at other research institutions worldwide.
Click here to learn more about our Acupuncture services for Women's Health
We also offer Community Acupuncture on Tuesdays! Click here for more information.
Acupuncture improves the body’s functions and promotes the natural self healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sites commonly referred to as acupuncture points, or acupoints. The most common method used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe, and the body, in terms of two opposing forces: yin and yang. When these forces are in balance, the body is healthy. Energy, called "qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body. This constant flow of energy keeps the yin and yang forces balanced. However, if the flow of energy gets blocked, like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can lead to pain, lack of function, or illness. Acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. Modern research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on the nervous, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. By stimulating the body’s various systems, acupuncture can help to resolve pain, and improve sleep, digestive function, and sense of well-being.
What happens during an acupuncture treatment?
First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health history. Then, they will examine your tongue’s shape, color, and coating, feel your pulse, and possibly perform some additional physical examinations depending on your individual health needs. Using these unique assessment tools, the acupuncturist will be able to recommend a proper treatment plan to address your particular condition. To begin the acupuncture treatment, you lay comfortably on a treatment table while precise acupoints are stimulated on various areas of your body. Most people feel no or minimal discomfort as the fine needles are gently placed. The needles are usually retained between 15 and 30 minutes. During and after treatments, people report that they feel very relaxed.
What to expect during my initial visit?
All new patients are asked to complete a patient information form and health history. This questionnaire will include questions about your medical history, your family's medical history, and your lifestyle. It is confidential and abides by the laws of HIPAA. When the practitioner arrives at a working diagnosis, she will place you in a comfortable position to insert the needles. After the needles are inserted, you will relax in the treatment room for 30-45 minutes. Your practitioner will then return and take out the needles. After the treatment is over, she may recommend nutrition and lifestyle modifications if they would be helpful to you. First treatments may last up to 90 minutes.
We also may incorporate auricular treatments, cupping, moxibustion, and dietary and lifestyle suggestions into your treatment sessions.
How many treatments will I need?
The frequency and number of treatments differ from person to person. Some people experience dramatic relief in the first treatment. For complex or long standing chronic conditions, one to two treatments per week for several months may be recommended. For acute problems, usually fewer visits are required, usually eight to ten visits in total. An individualized treatment plan that includes the expected number of treatments will be discussed during your initial visit.
What conditions are commonly treated by Acupuncture?
Hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture show that it successfully treats conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems (back pain, neck pain, and others) to nausea, migraine headache, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and problem related to infertility.
Case controlled clinical studies have shown that acupuncture has been an effective treatment for the following diseases, symptoms or conditions:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Joint Pain
- Lactation (lack of)
- Leukopenia
- Low back pain
- Morning sickness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck pain
- Postoperative pain
- Sciatica
Acupuncture for fertility and pregnancy
Acupuncture is safe and effective during pregnancy.
Acupuncture is not a substitute for Western prenatal medical care. Instead, it offers complementary care that has many benefits. Since acupuncture has very few side effects, many pregnant women now seek this alternative to drug therapy for a number of common pregnancy complaints. Please consult your medical doctor before seeking complementary care.
Studies have shown acupuncture to be effective for stress, headaches, morning sickness, hip and low back pain, breech position, and mild to moderate depression. And research is now focusing on the routine use of acupuncture to enhance wellness during pregnancy and labor.
Acupuncture may also help with fertility. Studies show that acupuncture can increase the chances that assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will result in a live birth by 10 to 15 percent or more, for example.
A search of peer-reviewed scientific studies doesn't unearth a single study that points to any increased risk from the use of acupuncture in pregnancy or labor. A 2002 study conducted at the Women's & Children's Hospital at Adelaide University in Australia on the safety of acupuncture for nausea in early pregnancy verified that there is no increased risk of congenital anomalies, miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, premature birth, or normal measures of neonatal health (such as maturity or birth weight) when women receive acupuncture during pregnancy.
The study was conducted during the first trimester of pregnancy, when fetal development is most vulnerable. These results have been replicated at other research institutions worldwide.
Click here to learn more about our Acupuncture services for Women's Health
We also offer Community Acupuncture on Tuesdays! Click here for more information.
Acupuncture Intake Form (for initial Acupuncture appointments)
| acupuncture_intake_form_2021.pdf |
