FAQ
Q: What are acupuncture needles like?
A: Only sterile disposable needles are used, so there is no risk of infection. We use a needle once, then dispose of it.
Acupuncture needles are small and hair-thin. They are solid, not hollow like the needles used by doctors to give injections. It is because they are solid and so thin that they are usually painless.
Q: Are acupuncture needles regulated?
A: In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed the experimental status tag on acupuncture needles. The FDA reclassified acupuncture needles, regulating them as it does medical devices such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes. Acupuncture needles must now be manufactured according to single-use standards of sterility.
Q: Does Acupuncture hurt?
A: No. Acupuncture needles are much thinner than the hypodermic needles used by doctors. When inserted by a trained professional, they should not cause pain. Most patients are surprised to find that an acupuncture treatment is extremely relaxing, and it is fairly common for a patient to even fall asleep during treatment.
Following treatment, many patients feel a tremendous sense of relaxation and calm.
Q: Do I have to believe in it for it to work?
A: No. Acupuncture works whether or not you think it will. It’s even used successfully on animals and children, who do not understand or believe in the process yet they get better anyway. Of course, a positive attitude helps with any type of therapy, but it is not necessary to believe in acupuncture (or to feel it working) for it to work.
Since positive expectations and belief in a particular therapy help to increase therapeutic results, we encourage you to raise any concerns or doubts you may have about acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. We’d like to help you to better understand acupuncture and TCM so that you may have the most positive healing experience possible. You are invited to contact Adam Larner today, and he will personally respond to any questions or comments promptly.
Q: Do you use herbs?
A: Yes, Chinese herbal medicine plays a significant role in our practice. Whereas some conditions respond better to acupuncture and some to herbal treatment, we find that many conditions respond best to a combination of both acupuncture and herbs. Patients are obviously never “required” to take herbs as part of their treatment plan.
Q: How do herbs differ from western medicine?
A: Chinese herbal formulas tend to be much gentler than Western medicines. They work to not only help relieve symptoms but to help return the body to balance and equilibrium so that herbs will not be needed further. That is why we often modify the herbs as treatment continues, since the body starts to shift towards being healthier, and therefore the herbs are adjusted to meet the changing needs of the body.
Q: Can I take Chinese herbs when I am on medication?
A: It depends on the medications you are taking. This would have to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Q: How quickly can I expect to feel better?
A: In general, we tell our patients they should start to feel the benefits from acupuncture in 2-3 treatments. If the problem is acute, sometimes improvement is felt after 1 treatment, and may only need 3-5 treatments to resolve. If the problem is chronic and long-term, it may take many treatments to help resolve it.
Q: How often should I be treated?
A: Typically we treat patients once a week. If the condition is acute and painful, we may want to do treatments 2-3 times per week for the first couple of weeks. The benefits of acupuncture treatments tend to hold longer as you receive treatments, so what typically happens is that patients start to need to see us less and less, and after a while they only come periodically for as-needed maintenance.
Q: Does acupuncture always help?
A: No, but it usually does. If you do not feel any benefit after 3-5 treatments, then acupuncture may not work for you.
Q: What should I wear for the treatment?
A: Just wear loose fitting clothes that can be easily rolled up above your elbows and knees.
Q: Does insurance cover acupuncture?
A: Some insurance does. You’ll need to check with your insurance plan first. We always provide a receipt (called a superbill) that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
