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FAQ
How
long is the appointment?
The entire appointment takes about 45-60 minutes. The needles are
retained between 30 to 45 minutes. This duration of time often depends
on the nature of the problem.
How
many treatments will I need?
The course of treatment depends on each individual and the specific
condition. It is standard to say that after 6 treatments, the patient
& acupuncturist can then re-assess the efficacy of the treatments.
People receive acupuncture to maintain health and to prevent illness,
while others get acupuncture to heal an illness, relieve pain, or
speed up a recovery process.
It
should be noted that often with natural medicine, people do not
feel they are making drastic improvements and thereby discontinue
treatment. Soon after, they feel worse with the symptoms recurring;
they then realize that the treatments were helping. While changes
can be quick, health improvements can also be gradual, appearing
to be inconsequential.
What
do I need to do before a treatment?
Avoid eating a big meal or drinking
alchohol before a treatment. Also, avoid coming in feeling very
hungry; eat something even if they are just snacks. Wear comfortable
and loosely fitted clothing.
Does
it hurt?
You may dread the needles they use when they draw blood.
Those are hyperdermic needles that must be big enough to transport
blood out. But those are not the ones used for acupuncture! Acupuncture
uses very thin needles (about the width of a piece of hair). The
needles used for acupuncture are super thin, about 25 to 50 times
thinner than the ones used to draw blood.
Upon
insertion, most people feel nothing, while others feel something.
Some people actually prefer to feel some sort of sensation as a
sign of their own life force, once the needles are in. The sensations
are often described as dull, achy, or tingly feelings at the acupuncture
point and along its meridian channels.
How
deep do the needles go in?
Often the needles do not go very deep, about 1/8 to 1
inch beyond the initial surface of the skin. However, the depth
varies depending on the condition, age, and constitution of the
patient.
Are
all acupuncturists also herbalists?
No, not all acupuncturists are herbalists. In China, acupuncture
training and herbal training are completely separate. Likewise,
there are some schools in the US that offer acupuncture training
only. In some states, chinese herbal medicine training is a separate
curriculum from their acupuncture program.
In
states like California, acupuncture and herbal medicine education
are combined in chinese medical school training. Acupuncture and
herbal medicine education in California require 4 years of post-college
training, equivalent to 4,000 hours. These hours are required to
be eligible to sit for the licensing board exam. For acupuncturists
trained in California, you can be assured that they were trained
in Chinese herbal medicine as well.
What
are the risks or side effects of acupuncture?
Risks
and side effects of acupuncture are rare.
Contraindications
& Precautions:
* Needling
abdomen or lumbosacral areas of pregnant women.
* Avoiding needling near major blood vessels to prevent bleeding.
* Caution to needling points on the chest and back to avoid injury
to the organs.
* Caution for hemophiliac individuals
Risks:
* Bruising
* Fainting
* Nausea, vomiting
*
Muscle spasms
* Bleeding
* Nerve damage
* Accidental injury to organs (brain, spinal cord, heart, liver,
spleen, kidney, lungs)
I
am taking medications. Can I still get acupuncture?
Yes,
you can still receive acupuncture but it is important to inform
and update your acupuncturist on what type of medications you are
taking.
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