Is Acupuncture Safe?

When performed by a trained and licensed professional, acupuncture is extremely safe. All licensed acupuncturists today use pre-sterilized, individually packaged, disposable filaments. It is an all-natural, drug-free therapy, yielding no side effects just feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Do You Sterilize/Clean the Needles?

No, we never re-use a needle so there is no need for sterilization or cleaning. We follow the one-time use, sterilized, disposable needles as the industry standard. There is no re-using of needles even from one part of the body to another.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Yes and No, acupuncture needles are very thin, like a human hair. You may not even feel anything when the needle is inserted, however, during the session you may feel “De Qi” sensation such as heavy, pressure, tingling, warmth, or numbness around the needle site or travel up and down the channels. Some patients are more sensitive than others and will perceive the needle insertions far more differently. Often, people find acupuncture very relaxing, some even fall asleep during the treatment.

What Should I Expect During My First Visit?

During your first office visit, the practitioner will ask you at length about your health condition physically and emotionally. After the practitioner obtains a complete picture of your health status, she can discuss with you the underlying problems related to your condition and a treatment plan.

How long is an acupuncture session?

Initial consultation and treatment together will be around 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on the complication of patient issues. Follow up treatment will be 30 mins-60 mins. Depending on what we are treating, sessions are timed accordingly. Generally 30 mins to 1 hour for each session is standard.

Will the pain completely resolve after my first acupuncture session?

You may get some relieve from the treatment but not going to be pain free in one section. Patients who are expecting complete resolution of pain within their first session of acupuncture, are misled. Acupuncture takes time. You can’t expect years of chronic pain to go away with one session. Exercise, change of diet, and possibly herbal supplements need to be taken into consideration as well. 

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The frequency, length, and number of visits vary from each individual, it depends on the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint, so there is no set number of treatments. Usually it involves a series of twice a week, weekly or bi-weekly treatments in an outpatient setting. However, missing more than two weeks of acupuncture during treatment of chronic conditions, will set your results back (virtually starting over from square one).

What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping is one of the methods in Chinese Traditional Medicine. Cupping is working on the sinew, muscle  and channel helps to increase blood circulation and pain by moving Qi and relieve blood stagnation in the area. Traditionally, cupping therapy has been done by burning a cotton ball saturated with alcohol in the glass cup to burn all oxygen inside the cup which creates a suction pressure on the top of the skin. In modern times, it can be done by pumping air out of the plastic cup to create the same suction.

What is Cupping for?

Cupping is good for pain and relaxing the muscle. It also pulls toxins and tonifies the organs in some cases.