Acupuncture FAQ

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting sterile, single-use, stainless steel needles into specific points in the body in order to achieve a therapeutic outcome.

Are there different types of acupuncture?

Yes. Owing to its thousands of years of use many styles have developed over time. Some examples include acupuncture based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and 5-element acupuncture and channel-based acupuncture, which are classical systems, existing before the development and systematization of TCM in the mid-20th century. There is also orthopaedic acupuncture, which is based entirely on western anatomy and physiology, and includes the needling of trigger points and motor points, and balancing of agonist and antagonist muscle groups. Various regional variations and traditions such as Korean and Japanese style acupuncture also exist.

What conditions are commonly treated with acupuncture?

The single most common ailment treated with acupuncture is pain. If people know anything about acupuncture, it’s that it treats pain.

Clinically, the most common types of pain treated are neck and back pain, as well as musculoskeletal and joint pain including sports injuries, menstrual and reproductive irregularities, and headaches.

Whether acute or chronic, acupuncture excels in its ability to treat pain. Different types of pain are better suited for treatment with different types of acupuncture, whether it be a classical style, or an orthopaedic style.

In addition to pain, commonly treated conditions include stress and psycho-emotional issues like stress, depression and anxiety, insomnia, and digestive challenges.

How does acupuncture work?

When it comes to pain, acupuncture can work in various ways.
Acupuncture releases endorphins in the general treatment of pain, and releases tension in muscles, restoring range of motion and balancing agonist and antagonist pairs of muscles in conditions of musculoskeletal pain and muscle tension.

In the treatment of stress, depression/anxiety, insomnia, and digestion acupuncture regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, shifting the individual from habituated fight-or-flight response into a mode of rest and digest.

There are also very detailed explanations of how acupuncture works according to the concepts and philosophy informing Chinese medicine, but these are perhaps better suited to those fluent in the discourse than the layperson seeking treatment.

What can I expect in a treatment?

In the initial intake, your acupuncturist goes over your detailed health history and asks you a series of diagnostic questions in order to formulate the best approach for your condition and discusses a treatment plan with you. Assessment and palpation of affected areas is commonly employed along with the needling, amidst ongoing communication as to what you are experiencing and ensuring comfort.

Needle retention time varies from no retention to often around 30 minutes.
Patients commonly find their time deeply relaxing and restorative.
Treatment takes place in a warm, quiet room with incandescent lighting and a comfortable treatment table.

How should I prepare for a treatment?

The single thing that is advised to do before an acupuncture treatment is to be sure you have recently eaten. If it has been a while since your last meal, it is advisable for you to have a snack before treatment.

How will I feel after treatment?

Generally, individuals experience a feeling of well-being and relaxation after treatment.

It is possible to feel quite slowed-down or in a pleasant daze as well.

It is also common to feel less tense after a treatment, and to experience greater range of motion in movement.

How many treatments will I need for my condition?

This is a difficult question to answer as you are an individual receiving individualized medicine, and not a statistic. This results in many variables, which include:

• Whether your condition is of a recent onset, or whether it is chronic in nature. Chronic conditions require longer treatment.
• Your responsiveness to treatment. Responsiveness varies greatly between individuals, and can have a lot to do with your personal relationship to your condition
• Your age: the younger among us recover more quickly typically
• What you do in your life outside of treatment, etc., etc.

Broadly speaking, for acute to sub-acute conditions it is often advised that 6-8 treatments should make a significant difference to your condition, while some difference should be noticeable within 3 treatments.Some conditions are difficult, or perpetuated by lifestyle or necessity. In these situations, ongoing acupuncture serves to keep the condition manageable.

Does acupuncture hurt?

No, acupuncture need not be painful, though there are many factors at play here.
An individual’s sensitivity plays a role, as does a generalized needle phobia present in our culture.

Compared to a hypodermic needle, which individuals are accustomed to when having blood drawn, acupuncture needles are tiny. They’re closer in diameter to a human hair.

Needle insertion can range from 100% painless to a small prick sensation that lasts up to a few seconds.

Once inserted, it is common for an acupuncturist to manipulate a needle to elicit what is known as a “de qi” sensation, which can be described as a feeling of heaviness, numbness, or pressure. This sensation is not experienced outside of acupuncture, so may be strange, but it is not painful, and patients grow accustomed to it quickly.

In cases of orthopaedic needling, it is common for a practitioner to elicit a muscle twitch in order to reset a muscle’s length by releasing contraction. This sensation can be somewhat startling as it is involuntary, but there is no reason for it to be painful.

It may be reassuring to know that treatment is collaborative and based on ongoing informed consent, and that you are in control of what is being done at all times.

If there is discomfort, adjustments can be made immediately, and nothing needs to happen in the treatment that disregards how you’re feeling about it. That would be absurd.

I’m generally an anxious person. Do you think acupuncture can work for me?

Anxiety seems a pretty reasonable experience given the current state of the world. We’re happy to work with you patiently and supportively to provide what you need to have a positive, therapeutic experience.

For some who experience anxiety it can take a few treatments to get used to acupuncture and really be able to relax, but acupuncture treatment does become more pleasant with more experience.

I have extended health coverage. Do you offer direct billing?

Great. That makes acupuncture more accessible for you.
Yes, we do. For a list of insurance companies we can bill directly, please click here.