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Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine – Frequently Asked Questions

by Dr. Jennifer Bennett

Acupuncture is a medical treatment that still holds a lot of mystery for many Americans.  Some of the important questions we frequently are asked regarding acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (cumulatively called Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM) are: What does it treat?  How many treatments will it take to improve my condition?  Do the needles hurt?  How often do I need to receive treatment?  In order to clarify some of the uncertainty, we’d like to address each of these questions individually.

What conditions does acupuncture treat?

TCM is best known for reducing or eliminating neck, back, and joint pain.  Infertility (male and female) is another condition where acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be very successful.  Most importantly, TCM can be used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions, including headaches, insomnia, low energy, skin rashes, colds and seasonal allergies, and digestive concerns.  Chinese medicine works to help the body’s natural ability to heal itself over time, so many chronic conditions can successfully be addressed with TCM.

How many treatments might be required before I notice improvement in my symptoms?

The answer to this question is very dependent on several factors, including the overall health of the individual and how long they’ve suffered from the condition or symptoms.  Some patients experience significant improvement in one visit; most commonly we suggest that patients have approximately 3-4 visits in the first 2-4 weeks.  As acupuncture treatments tend to have a cumulative effect, conditions often improve faster the closer together the initial treatments are. We can frequently assess how well a patient will respond to acupuncture after these first visits.

Do the needles hurt?

The needles used in acupuncture are very thin and bendy, similar to a thick hair.  They are magnitudes thinner than a needle used for shots or blood draws, and the feelings of each are remarkably different.  Although acupuncture should rarely produce a sharp, stabbing or severely painful feeling, normal feelings often include dull, heavy or achy sensations that are not described as painful or unpleasant.  Each acupuncturist should be very aware of each patient’s sensitivities and concerns to help make needling and acupuncture a more calming and healthful experience.

How often should I receive treatment for the best outcome?

Your acupuncturist will help to decide the best follow up frequency for your particular condition.  For more acute conditions, such as muscle sprains and strains, more frequent visits initially may bring added benefit.  For more chronic conditions, follow up once or twice weekly to once or twice monthly may be recommended to work toward specific treatment goals.

The physicians at Aria Integrative Medicine are licensed acupuncturists and are happy to discuss how acupuncture can be used effectively to improve your health and help to relieve frustrating symptoms.  Please call our office with any questions or to schedule an appointment at 206-588-1227.

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Get our FREE ebook The 5 Foundations of Autoimmune Diseases, register for one of our FREE online webinars, or check out our blog for additional articles.

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