FAQ
How does the National Institute of Health view Traditional Chinese Medicine?
According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year.
Learn more from the National Institute of Health’s backgrounder on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced for centuries. It's based on the theory that energy, called chi (say "chee"), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians.
We believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.
Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow. Sometimes heat, pressure, or mild electrical current is used along with needles.
What happens during acupuncture?
Our experienced Doctor will give you an exam and ask questions about your pain and how well you are functioning. He will also ask about your overall health.
Then the Doctor will look for the places (called points) on your body to access the chi that is blocked or not flowing right. Each of the points relates to certain health problems or body functions.
Your Doctor will look for landmarks on your body—using certain muscles or bones, for example—to find the points so that he or she can place the needles.
After the Doctor finds the points, he will quickly tap very thin needles into your skin. He will probably place several needles. Some may be placed deeper than others, depending on what the provider believes is needed to restore the flow of chi.
In most cases treatment lasts for 15 minutes to an hour. You may have several visits to complete your treatment. Some people have ongoing visits.
What does it feel like?
You may feel slight pressure when a needle goes in. Most people find that it doesn't hurt. The area may tingle, feel numb, itch, or be a little sore. This is a sign that the energy flow, or chi, has been accessed.
After the needle is placed, your Doctor may roll the needle slightly back and forth. Or he may use heat or electrical current on the needle.
What is acupuncture used for?
People use acupuncture to relieve pain and treat certain health conditions. You can use it by itself or as part of a treatment program. Studies have found promising results for the use of acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, chemotherapy, and post surgery pain to pregnancy, chemotherapy, and post surgery pain.
Is acupuncture safe?
In general, acupuncture is safe and we only use disposable single use sterile needles. In addition, our experienced practitioners know exactly where to insert the needles, avoiding sensitive areas.
