Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions



    Do I have to get disrobed?
Not usually. Most of the time, the main needle-insertion points are on the lower legs, ears or arms,
so wearing loose-fitting clothing is fine. Similar to medical doctors, sometimes an acupuncturist will
ask you to disrobe and put on a gown if he needs to work on your back, upper legs or torso.

    How big are the needles and how deep are they inserted?
The stainless steel needles, normally about as thin as a human hair, are presterilized and disposable.
Unlike the hollow needles used for giving injections, acupuncture needles are solid. The acupuncturist
will insert them to a depth of anywhere from a quarter of an inch to 3 inches, depending on the amount of
subcutaneous fat that the needles need to penetrate.

    What does it feel like?
Some people experience a slight sharp sensation depending on how sensitive they are and where the
needles are inserted. Once the needle is in place, it’s normal to initially feel a tingling sensation,
numbness, mild pressure or warmth. If these sensations became too strong or are uncomfortable, alert
your acupuncturist and she will adjust the needles.

    What exactly should I expect to happen during an acupuncture session?
The first treatment starts with a thorough medical history followed by a physical exam that notes skin tone,
tongue condition and the qualities of your wrist pulse. According to TCM theory, these observations provide
an indication of what’s going on in your body. After making a diagnosis, the practitioner will ask you to lie
down and insert needles into key points. You’ll be allowed to rest with the needles in place, typically for
up to 40 minutes.

    How can it help me?
Acupuncture is mostly known in the West as a pain relief technique, but is also proven to be useful in numerous
other indications. In 1979, the World Health Organization cited 104 conditions that acupuncture can treat — either
alone or in conjunction with contemporary conventional medicine. In 1998 the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
issued a Consensus Statement on Acupuncture and cited conditions that acupuncture is effective for. Acupuncture also
plays a huge role in preventive care, particularly as a form of stress management. “The underlying cause of most of
the conditions I treat is chronic stress, which affects multiple systems in the body, including the immune and
endocrine systems,” says Mary Saunders, a Boulder, Colo.-based licensed acupuncturist.

    How does it work?
 TCM teaches that the quality of energy or life force in the body — what acupuncturists call qi (pronounced “chee”) —
determines our health. This qi circulates along energy pathways called meridians, many of which are linked to specific
organs. Disease results when the qi becomes blocked and can’t circulate freely. In order to rebalance the energy flow
and restore health, acupuncturists insert needles into key points on the body.
(They work with approximately 360 acupoints.)

    Is it OK for me to eat before or after a session? What about exercise?
It’s good to eat a little bit before a session because low blood sugar could increase sensitivity to the treatment
and cause you to feel faint. Don’t, however, eat a heavy meal. For exercise, the reverse holds true. Prior to your
session you can exercise as strenuously as you want. However, most acupuncturists advise only mild exercise within
several hours after treatment. Eating too much or vigorous exertion can disrupt the corrective flow of energy that
follows an acupuncture session. “You’re trying to shift energy into a new pattern,” Saunders says. “If you do something
really intense, you can alter the new pattern we are trying to create in your body.”

    How many sessions do I need in order to start feeling the benefits?
That depends on the severity of the condition. For some people, the effect of acupuncture can be quite dramatic — they
may feel the benefits after one session. For others, the response may be more gradual. In general, you should notice at
least small changes in your condition within four to six treatments. If you are not seeing benefits, keep in mind that
there is variability in the quality of acupuncturists. So before deciding whether acupuncture works for you, you could
also consider trying a different practitioner.

(provided by: Revolution Health)