Your Most-Asked Questions Answered
What does it do?
The application of acupuncture needles to your skin creates a positive stimulus in the body that helps it downregulate your excitatory stress response and promote a state of rest and repair in the body. This is part of how it helps reduce pain and helps you heal. (see footnote below for citation link) Interrupting the stress response in the body creates a cascade of positive effects, including lowering blood pressure, aiding digestion, reducing muscle tension, and much more. This response often means you’ll fall asleep during your treatment or become very relaxed while you rest in your comfy recliner.
Does it hurt?
No. Acupuncture is not painful. The normal feelings people have when acupuncture needles are placed in the skin are an initial pinch that doesn't last. After that, most people feel nothing from the needles at all. I let each person new to acu know that if a needle ever stays pinchy or bothersome to let me know so I can adjust it or remove it.
What is it good for?
The conditions I see where acupuncture helps are wide ranging. Some of the easiest things to treat include migraines, neuropathy, hot flashes, insomnia, and anxiety. It also tends to be great for digestive issues, back/neck/joint pain, conditions involving inflammation, seasonal allergies and overcoming addictions. How much you’ll need will depend on several factors and you’ll receive a written recommendation when you come in for your first treatment to get the ball rolling in the right direction for your specific needs.
What happens after needles are placed?
After the insertion of needles, which takes less than a minute, most people begin to feel relaxed and sleepy. Most fall asleep for some time.
How long does a treatment last?
I recommend at least 30 minutes as a minimum amount of time. My philosophy about treatment time is that it is a good idea to let the body decide the right amount of time. Most people will fall asleep entirely and then wake up on their own a little while later, or get very relaxed and then feel more alert after some time has passed. If you can let that process happen you will get to know the right length of time for you. And, it can vary a little as you have more treatments.
Are there any risks or side effects to be concerned with?
The most common unwanted effect from acupunture is having a bruise where a needle was placed. This happens less than 5% of the time. There can also be a tiny drop of blood released when a needles is removed, at about the same rate of less than 5%. Ongoing bleeding does not occur, even for people taking blood thinners. All acupuncturists, including me, are trained to avoid blood vessels, nerves, and organs, making acupuncture a very safe and relaxing experience.
I've seen a picture of the needles, does the whole thing go far into my skin?
No, they only go in far enough to stay where they are for the time of your treatment.
When will I notice a difference?
Most people feel relaxed, with a lot less stress, after a treatment. You will most likely need a series of treatments to make progress. How often I recommend for your treatment plan depends on the severity of your condition. We are set up to maximize your ability to get the amount of acupuncture you need to get better quickly. After having 2-3 treatments most people feel they are making progress. It is very rare to have several treatments and feel nothing is changing with your condition.
Do you take insurance?
No, we don't take insurance. We can provide a receipt that is suitable for most companies to reimburse you if you are interested in that, and we only charge $25/visit so it's affordable for most people even without reimbursement.
