• The most asked – Does it hurt?

• The acupuncture needles are typically not much thicker than a human hair. They are not like the needles used to draw blood or give shots. In some instances, you won’t feel it at all. Other times, there may be a tingling, warmth, heaviness, or a pressure. At worst, it might feel like a mosquito bite. Most people find acupuncture very relaxing and actually fall asleep during treatments.

• Does it work?

• How does it work?

• The ancient Chinese observed that certain points of the body helped certain conditions. These were first taught from one generation to the next, and then written in books. The oldest book was written in 221 B.C. So acupuncture has been practiced for 2500 to 5000 years; no one is sure just how long. This ancient Chinese people were an agricultural society, so they described their theories of the body the way they saw the land. Heat, cold, dampness, dryness, and wind all made their effects known. The basic theory says that Qi (an energy force or life force) moves through the body in pathways called meridians. Any blockage of these pathways will cause problems (like a beaver building a dam in the river will cause problems). The goal of acupuncture is to clear any blockages and allow the pathways to flow free and full of Qi. Modern western medicine does not yet have the technology to observe these meridians with our current machines. Just as we once thought atoms were the smallest particles, with advance technology we have now seen the smaller particles that make up atoms. Whether or not we advance technologically to explain the theories of Chinese medicine in western medical terms, the fact remains that this is the oldest continually practiced medicine in the world. This is because it works. If it didn’t work, it would not have lasted so long – we don’t continue doing things that don’t work – we change. This has remained essentially the same over all these centuries.

• Is acupuncture safe?

• When performed by a competently trained, licensed professional, acupuncture is extremely safe. The needles are prepackaged, disposable and sterile. They are used one time and then put into a medical hazardous waste container.

• How many treatments will I need?

• Acupuncture usually works best in a series of treatments. Acute problems may be resolved in 1 or 2 treatments. Chronic ones have been there a long time and typically take longer to resolve, possibly 5-10 treatments. Some degenerative conditions may take many treatments over a long time. Much depends on the person and the condition. Other therapies may be prescribed such as Chinese herbal medicine, dietary modifications, specific exercises or relaxation techniques.

• How did you get interested?

• I first learned about acupuncture when I was about 12. I saw a program on TV and have been fascinated since. I’ve always preferred natural ways of doing things: foods, medicines, etc. This treatment method takes into account the whole person including physical, emotional, and spiritual. Even our ancient books talk about the emotional components of disease. The methods used to restore imbalances are minimally invasive (acupuncture) and use whole herbs - as nature gave them to us. The method does not attempt to improve on the natural substances by just using the active ingredients – but formulates mixtures of ‘the real thing’, tried and tested over thousands of years. It really works and with very little or no side effects because of this.

• How do I find an acupuncturist?