What Does Acupuncture Treat?

This practice, which is over 3,000 years old, has been researched extensively in recent years, and found to be helpful for addiction, asthma and allergies, insomnia, stroke rehabilitation, adverse reactions to cancer treatments, digestive issues, PMS and dysmenorrhea, morning sickness, labor induction, Bell’s palsy, depression and anxiety, blood pressure regulation, pruritis, and many types of pain. Examples of pain conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, dental pain, neck pain, knee pain, facial pain, osteoarthritis, headaches, post-operative pain, myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, epicondylitis, and low back pain.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

The Chinese describe specific pathways in the body, called meridians, each related to the functioning of certain organs, glands, and muscle pathways in the body. Research has found that these pathways show heightened electrical conductivity over other areas of the body. Imaging techniques and CT scans (computerized tomography) show concentrated points of microvascular structures that correspond to the map of acupuncture points, not found in such concentration elsewhere. There is not one unified thought yet about the mechanism behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, but research indicates that placement of needles at specific locations along the meridians, known as acupuncture points, causes the body to release endorphins, block pain receptors, or release opioid peptides that serve to reduce pain, improve blood circulation, strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and regulate hormones. The Chinese describe meridians as being like flowing rivers. Where the river flows unimpeded, the land (body) is nourished; where there are dams or blockages, pain results and the flow backs up, not allowing nourishment to reach as far into the body, resulting in illness. The needles serve to break up those blockages.

How Should I Prepare for a Session? It is best not to eat a big meal before an acupuncture session; however, eating a light amount of food beforehand is helpful, rather than coming in on an empty stomach. Please refrain from alcohol or other drugs before and several hours after a session. It is helpful to wear loose clothing, to allow for easier access to acupuncture points, but towels and sheets will be available for draping if you need to remove some clothing.

What Happens in a Typical Session? After a thorough review of your health history, taking your pulses and looking at your tongue (both of which are Chinese Medicine assessment/diagnostic methods), the practitioner will insert, on average, 10-14 acupuncture needles on spots of your body that have been found to be useful for treating your particular symptoms or condition. Sometimes fewer needles are used, sometimes more. Some of the locations may seem strange, located far away from where you are experiencing discomfort, but in Chinese Medicine, they are called ‘distal points’ and are known to be beneficial. Needles stay in place from 15-45 minutes, depending on the desired response and your current state of health. Additional techniques may be done, including electricity, moxibustion, TDP lamp, cupping, guasha, and tui’na, depending on your unique needs. You may feel sensations of heaviness, tingliness, energy surging, or dull achiness in the area of a needle. As the session progresses, typically, people feel a sense of deep relaxation.

What Are These Treatment Methods – Electricity? Moxibustion? TDP Lamp? Cupping? Guasha? Tui’na?

For chronic or stubborn pain conditions, or for labor support, electrical stimulation may be added to the needles, to make the treatment effects stronger. As a patient, let your practitioner know if you are comfortable with the level of current, or whether it needs to be adjusted. Moxibustion and TDP lamps are two methods commonly used to bring warmth to an area of the body that is cold or weaker than other body areas. Moxibustion is the burning of a substance, generally mugwort, over or on the body (with insulation against burning of the skin). TDP lamps shine light that is far on the infrared side of the light spectrum, and are stationed above the body, over the area that will be warmed by the light. Cupping and guasha are two techniques intended to break up fascial adhesions and improve blood circulation in an area of the body; cupping accomplishes this by creating a negative vacuum that pulls the fascia into the cup, while guasha does this by scraping the area with a special tool. Tui’na is a form of Chinese massage that is done through clothing and is vigorous in style.

How Many Treatments Will I Need, and How Often? Every individual is different, so the number of treatments needed to address the concern that brings you in will vary. Generally, the longer you have experienced symptoms, the more time is needed for resolution. Even with long-standing conditions, you should begin to notice some effects within 4-6 sessions. The practitioner may recommend more frequent sessions initially (1-3 times a week), tapering off in frequency to once every two weeks, monthly, or seasonally, over time. Monthly and seasonal appointments help with health maintenance.

Are Acupuncture Needles Sterile? Reused? Acupuncture needles are sterile and packaged in an airtight container. Practitioners have the choice of single-use disposable needles or autoclaving them. In the US, most practitioners choose to use disposable needles.

Do Needles Hurt? Acupuncture needles are very fine. They don’t have a thick gauge, like needles used for Western Medicine procedures. Most of the time, insertion of needles is painless. On occasion, an individual may momentarily feel the insertion of a needle. If you feel it more than momentarily, inform your practitioner and they will either adjust the angle of the needle or choose to remove it.

How Safe is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a safe practice. Acupuncturists receive extensive training in needling techniques to ensure that needles do not puncture vital organs or other structures in the body.

What Kind of Training Do Acupuncturists Get? In the United States, all acupuncturists must attend a 3-4 year comprehensive graduate program at a nationally certified school. The curriculum includes comprehensive education in both Western Sciences and Chinese Medicine, including extensive supervised clinical experience providing acupuncture sessions to the public. Upon graduation, passage of a national exam is required, as well as meeting individual state laws regarding practice requirements.

Why Should I Take Chinese Herbs?

Sometimes acupuncture is adequate for addressing an imbalance in the body’s health, but in cases where the condition is chronic, the person is in a weakened state, or where the imbalance is more internal (e.g., digestive, urinary tract, respiratory), the addition of making dietary changes and taking Chinese herbs will greatly enhance the success of the treatment. An herbal formula will be determined that is individualized to your specific needs. Herbs in my clinic are generally offered in pill, granule, or tincture forms.

Does Insurance Cover Acupuncture?

A number of health insurance plans in Washington State cover acupuncture; Personal Injury Protection (PIP) also can include acupuncture as a treatment. Currently, Labor and Industries, Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for acupuncture services.

Check with your insurance company to clarify coverage. There may be co-pays and/or deductibles, and limits on the number of sessions per year. A referral from a medical practitioner may be required. Some insurance companies require the acupuncturist to be approved as a provider. Others will partially pay for sessions provided by non-providers. Check with the therapist to see whether they are a provider, and with the insurance company to determine whether they will pay for a non-provider.

There are two options for billing of your insurance company: I can bill, or you can pay upfront and bill the insurance company for reimbursement.