Before your first acupuncture visit:
- New patient paperwork can be found online here or completed in the office.
- Check your insurance prior to your visit. A list of companies we contract with can be found here.
What is an acupuncture treatment like? See the video!
After your acupuncture visit:
- A patient may feel some fatigue after his/her first visit
- Patients should avoid physically strenuous or emotionally stressful activities after treatment
How does acupuncture work?
Traditional explanation: Acupuncture began thousands of years before modern biomedical science. For lack of language, the Chinese explained the body as having an energy called qi (“chee”) which circulates through pathways (meridians) which carry qi like veins and arteries carry blood. Pain and dysfunction occurs when the qi is not flowing properly. By inserting needles into specific points on the meridians, we can direct the qi into a healthy flow.
Modern explanation: Thousands of studies have been conducted both on the effectiveness of acupuncture, but also on exactly how it works. Here are some of the things science tells us:
- Endorphins are released by the body, which act like Vicodin or morphine
- Muscle tension, pain levels, and nerve sensitivity decrease
- Blood flow is improved and inflammation is reduced
- MRI studies show that acupuncture causes changes in brain activity
- There is a decrease in stress from the “fight or flight” nervous system
- Numerous other changes occur in the nervous system and within the whole body
What results should I expect?
The response to acupuncture that patients will experience varies greatly. Sometimes patients notice immediate relief of symptoms, but typically the best results come with a series of visits. Patients are encouraged to make at three or four visits before deciding whether acupuncture is right for them.
