Frequently Asked Questions

COMMON QUESTIONS MOST OFTEN ASKED BY PATIENTS:

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an oriental form of treating many medical problems by inserting fine needles into various active points on the body. Legend has it that acupuncture is 4000 to 5000 years old. The first written reference to acupuncture dates back to somewhere between the 5th and 3rd centuries B.C. Acupuncture began in China, but soon spread to other oriental countries and in the past century has been practiced in Europe and the Soviet Union. The earliest record of Acupuncture practice in the U.S.A. was recorded by Dr. J.C. Gunn, M.D. in Gunn's New Family Physician in 1866.

What types of conditions are treated?
There is a wide variety of illnesses which acupuncture may treat. Almost any painful condition may be treated, provided there are no medical contraindications which may prevent this. These conditions which are treatable include such things as low back pain, sciatica, chronic headaches, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, ligamentus strain, and pain complicating almost any medical problem which has been thoroughly diagnosed and treated but in which the pain has been unable to be controlled. Many medical conditions such as deafness due to nerve problems, sinusitis, chronic diarrhea, constipation, asthma, menstrual pain, certain symptoms or multiple sclerosis and other neurologic conditions as well as various other diseases are treated with acupuncture. Weight control as well as smoking control have both proved to be beneficial with acupuncture. All decisions about whether acupuncture may be used in a certain individual should be made by a licensed physician who has experience in the clinical application of acupuncture.

Is acupuncture a painful procedure?
Most patients described that the sensation of needle insertion is not more than an instantaneous pinch. The whole procedure considered pleasant with minimal discomfort. Majority of patients are so relaxed during the treatment that they napped through the whole procedure.

What are the side effects of acupuncture?
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is the absence of serious side effects associated with its use. This is in contrast to many potent Western medicines in which severe side effects in certain cases may be worse than the disease being treated. Q


Will improvement from acupuncture be long lasting?
Many people who have been helped may retain their improvement for months or years. Those people whose symptoms return may be helped again with only a few additional treatments. It is extremely important to take an adequate amount of treatments in the beginning to obtain the best results and produce a long lasting effect.

How many treatments are necessary?
It is usually recommended that a series of 10 treatments be given. Many patients obtain the results after 10 to 15 treatments, so it is best to consult with the doctor about your particular case. The treatments are given preferably 2 - 3 times a week in the beginning and then spread out as the patient begins to improve.

What kind of needles are used? What are the chances of getting infected with disease, especially AIDS or Hepatitis?
Acupuncture needles are far different from the hypodermic needles which is used in giving injec
-tions. The needles are fine and solid. No medications are put on them or injected through them. The needles vary in length and are inserted into the areas of the body with overlying fat. The needles sterilization is exercised according to Centers for Disease Control recommendations to free them from any microbial contamination, including HIV and Hepatitis.