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Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.

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Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body's natural painkillers.

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Why it's done:

Acupuncture is used mainly to relieve discomfort associated with a variety of diseases and conditions, including:

  • Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting

  • Dental pain

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines

  • Labor pain

  • Lower back pain

  • Neck pain

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Menstrual cramps

  • Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis

  • Tennis elbow

  • Acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.

​

Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body's natural painkillers.

​

​

Why it's done:

Acupuncture is used mainly to relieve discomfort associated with a variety of diseases and conditions, including:

  • Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting

  • Dental pain

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines

  • Labor pain

  • Lower back pain

  • Neck pain

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Menstrual cramps

  • Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis

  • Tennis elbow

  • Acupuncture treatment

What you can expect:

During an acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist inserts very thin needles into specific spots on your body. Insertion of the needles usually causes little discomfort.

Each person who performs acupuncture has a unique style, often blending aspects of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. To determine the type of acupuncture treatment that will help you the most, your practitioner may ask you about your symptoms, behaviors and lifestyle. He or she may also closely examine.

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An acupuncture session may take up to 60 minutes, although some appointments may be much shorter. A common treatment plan for a single complaint would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity. In general, it's common to receive 6 to 8 treatments.​



Risks:

  • Have a bleeding disorder. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles may be increased if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.

    • Have a pacemaker. Acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to the needles may potentially interfere with a pacemaker's operation.

    • Are pregnant. Some acupuncture points are thought to stimulate labor, which could result in a premature delivery.

  • The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture.

    Before having acupuncture treatment, be sure to tell the practitioner if you:

  • Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical therapy that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to adjust the flow of qi and blood, promoting the body's natural healing processes.

  • Acupuncture works by adjusting the balance of qi and blood in the body, enhancing the body's self-healing capabilities. The selection of acupuncture points and the depth of needle insertion can influence the flow of energy in the body.

  • Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of conditions, including but not limited to pain management, digestive issues, emotional disorders, and sleep problems.

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  • Some studies suggest that acupuncture may have certain therapeutic effects on specific symptoms, but further scientific research is still needed to fully confirm its effectiveness.

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  • The specific arrangement of acupuncture sessions depends on the nature of the illness and individual differences. Typically, people need to undergo multiple sessions with certain intervals between them.

  • When performed by experienced professionals, acupuncture is generally considered safe. Qualified acupuncturists should take proper sterilization measures and ensure the use of appropriate needling techniques.

  • Some individuals choose acupuncture because they see it as a natural, holistic treatment that can promote the body's self-repair without the use of medications.

  • The effectiveness of acupuncture varies from person to person. Some individuals may experience noticeable improvements after a few sessions, while others may require a longer period of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What you can expect:

During an acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist inserts very thin needles into specific spots on your body. Insertion of the needles usually causes little discomfort.

Each person who performs acupuncture has a unique style, often blending aspects of Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. To determine the type of acupuncture treatment that will help you the most, your practitioner may ask you about your symptoms, behaviors and lifestyle. He or she may also closely examine.

​

An acupuncture session may take up to 60 minutes, although some appointments may be much shorter. A common treatment plan for a single complaint would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity. In general, it's common to receive 6 to 8 treatments.​



Risks:

  • Have a bleeding disorder. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles may be increased if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.

    • Have a pacemaker. Acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to the needles may potentially interfere with a pacemaker's operation.

    • Are pregnant. Some acupuncture points are thought to stimulate labor, which could result in a premature delivery.

  • The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture.

    Before having acupuncture treatment, be sure to tell the practitioner if you:

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