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1. Does acupuncture hurt?

2. Is acupuncture right for me?

3. How will I know if it is working?

4. How long will I have to come? 

5. What do you do with the used needles?

6. Can I exercise after session?

7. I'm pregnant – can I get acupuncture?

8. Will my insurance cover it?

9. Can it help me quit smoking?

answers

1. Does acupuncture hurt?

It usually doesn't. Some people report a sharp-feeling sensation when the needle is inserted, but rarely do people complain of more than that and it usually subsides pretty quickly.  Much smaller than a blood-draw needle, acupuncture needles are the width of a couple of human hairs (36-38 gauge).

2. Is acupuncture right for me?

That depends on why you are getting acupuncture and how you respond to a treatment.  Acupuncture can help alleviate the discomfort, pain, and side effects of most disorders (both physical and emotional). It may even make a disorder go away all together. 

Acupuncture can also be used to just relax and let go of tension.  In fact, that is what the Restoration Acupuncture is all about…simply releasing the stress and finding some balance in the middle of a hectic day.

People can seek acupuncture for many different reasons – physical and emotional – and many of them have great success when they incorporate it as part of a healthful lifestyle.

3. How will I know if it is working?

People generally get a sense of how they will respond to acupuncture within the first few treatments.  After a treatment, most people report an improvement in symptoms or at the very least an overall sense of well being.  Sometimes change is slow and subtle.  After the first few treatments, you may realize that you feel better, but be a little unclear as to how much you feel better.   

Sometimes it is helpful to gauge your progress – here, we use the altTHERA pain improvement scale.  This tool tracks your progress visually and we then use the data to evaluate what helps you feel better or worse. 

 4. How long will I have to come?

Four to six treatments is a good place to start.  If you are going to respond to acupuncture, you would most likely being doing so by this number of treatments.  An extensive diagnosis takes place during the first treatment; every subsequent treatment begins with a brief intake and ends with a review of your care plan.  Also, with 4 to 6 treatments the acupuncturist can get a pretty good sense of what a prognosis might look like. 

Everyone is different, but a good place to start when thinking about care plan and it’s duration is how long you have had the disorder.  Traditionally, treatment is suggested for half as long as you have had the disorder, although many people improve much faster than that.

To get results more quickly, coming several times a week may help.  With acute conditions, two to three times a week is recommended in the first few weeks. Once you start to feel better, you can come once a week.  As you improve even more, you can move to maintenance, which is just coming in when ever you feel like you need a tune up.

Acupuncture is not a magic bullet. Think of it as drops of water in to an empty bucket. Each drop slowly fills the bucket, just like each treatment slowly builds on the last to bring your body back to balance.

5. What do you do with the used needles?

All of the needles we use at altTHERA are single-use, disposable needles.  We dispose of them in biohazard containers.

6. Can I exercise after session?

Of course!  You can do most anything after an acupuncture treatment that you would otherwise do.  Although some people report a more relaxed and serene feeling, so just enjoying that works too.  If you do decide to exercise – don't let yourself cool off before you have covered your neck and shoulders.   In the winter after a treatment, it is always important to keep you neck and shoulders warm and covered.

Additionally, eating greasy, fried food or drink large amounts of alcohol after a treatment is not recommended.  They may lessen the effects of a treatment.

7. I'm pregnant – can I get acupuncture?

Yes – definitely, but be sure to tell us if you are pregnant.  Acupuncture can be part of a healthy pregnancy.  In fact, many women have used acupuncture as a safe, effective alternative to medication while they are pregnant.  Also, studies have found acupuncture to be successful helping a breech presentation turn.

8. Will my insurance cover it?

Rarely does insurance “cover” it – some facilities offer a discount to certain insurance patients.  We now offer our Follow up Treatment Insurance discount to all patients, not just those covered by insurance.

9. Can it help me quit smoking?

Acupuncture has been shown in studies to help a person stop smoking, but you have to really want to quit and be committed to quitting to have a good chance at success.  Acupuncture is an important part of a multi-prong approach to quitting smoking and can help with uncomfortable cravings from nicotine withdrawal.

A good place to start is setting a day as your quit date, then see your acupuncturist every day for the first 5 days.  These treatments can help you over the initial hump, which can be difficult. Be aware, however, that acupuncture cannot make you want to stop smoking…that has to come from you. 

If you have a question about acupuncture, email us at info@altthera.com.