What
is acupuncture?
How
does acupuncture work?
How
about needles?
Are
there any precautions to be observed on the day of an acupuncture
treatment?
How
will I feel during the treatment?
How
long are treatments?
How
many treatments will I need?
Does
health insurance cover acupuncture?
What
is acupuncture?
Acupuncture
originated in China more than 5,000 years ago. It is an ancient medical
treatment based on regulating the body's “Chi” or "life
energy," which flows in the body along pathways called meridians.
Hundreds of acupuncture points can be opened like gates to balance and
harmonize the flow of “Chi”, relieving pain and many other symptoms
of disease.
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How
does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture
works by stimulating various points in the body, which are pathways
through which "Chi" flows.
Acupuncture affects the body in three specific ways, it:
1.
Alters body chemicals, including stimulation of endorphins.
2.
Causes sensations, which affect nerves and creates
beneficial reflex responses.
3.
Affects the body’s natural electro-magnetic fields.
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How about needles?
We use disposable needles and they are very
fine, about the size of a thick hair.
They are solid and nothing is injected through them.
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Are
there any precautions to be observed on the day of an acupuncture
treatment?
Yes.
To enhance the value of the treatment, the following guidelines are
recommended:
- Do not come on an empty stomach.
-
Do not eat an
unusually large meal just before or after treatment.
-
Do not over-exercise or consume alcoholic beverages 6 hours before or
after treatment.
-
Avoid cold and iced
drinks, as well as cool food the day of the treatment.
-
Allow for a period of rest immediately after your acupuncture
treatment.
-
Continue to take your prescription medications as prescribed by
your primary care physician.
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How
will I feel during the treatment?
Once the needles have been placed, your might feel a dull ache or
a tingling sensation which indicates that the point has been accurately
located, and only lasts for a second or two.
Some people even fall asleep. These are normal responses. Some
people say they feel very relaxed when they are having a treatment,
others don't feel much at all. Even if you don't feel much you are
benefiting from treatment.
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How
long are treatments?
Treatments
are between 45 minutes and 1 hour long. The first treatment may be up to
1.5 hours. In this time we will take a full history spend time getting
to know you and give you time to ask questions you may have. After treatment, you can expect to feel less pain, more
energy, and a heightened sense of well being.
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How
many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required depends on the severity and
duration of the symptoms to be addressed. For a cold or flu, one or two
treatments can be very helpful. For chronic health conditions of years
or even life-long duration, a longer course of treatment is normally
required. Within the first 4-6 sessions, the effectiveness of the
treatment is often evident and clear treatment goals should be
established.
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Does
health insurance cover acupuncture?
You should review your health policy to determine if you will be reimbursed for your acupuncture treatments. You may want to contact your insurance provider to encourage them to provide reimbursement for acupuncture. Acupuncture is covered under Workers' Compensation. We will accept Workers' Compensation insurance, if
written pre-authorization is obtained from your insurance company.
This is the patient's responsibility.
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