Acupuncture needles are very gentle and are as thin as a cat's whisker.  The tips are rounded and the needles are flexible. They are designed to bend and give way as needed.  The term needle would be more aptly described as a filament.  The needle is thus not the best description of an acupuncturist's tool.  The 'filaments' don't hurt. What you may feel is a slight very quick pinching sensation if anything at all.

In light of over 2500 years of successful results and predictable outcomes with acupuncture and Eastern medicine, a need to formalize research into the workings of acupuncture has arisen. Even though the endurance of this system of medicine over centuries is a testament to its success, Western research has offered further verification to acupuncture and gives us an evidence-based platform to look to.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) part of the National Institutes of Health, is the Federal Government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems and practices. NCCIH funds ongoing research to evaluate Acupunctures' effectiveness. Studies for many conditions are continually emerging which show research on the efficacy of Acupuncture.

The best evidence, however, is your own experience. Perhaps trying a session could lead to your own anecdotal evidence to add to the existing evidence-based research.  If you see results, you know it's working!

Pulse diagnosis is one of an acupuncturist's tools; the difference between your pulses when you come in and after the treatment can reveal results.  From the practitioner's perspective, this indicates that changes have occurred which are designed to bring forth positive change. Those results may be felt right away or may take a little longer to discern.  That will depend on your particular situation and what is being worked on.  

Maintaining good health is sometimes compared to the layers of an onion. It is a process that occurs layer by layer in the different aspects of our being (physical, emotional, and mental/ spiritual).  

Usually there can be fast relief, and in addition to that causes are set in motion which can elicit long term, lasting results.

All practicing acupuncturists are required to be certified and licensed by the state they practice in. This standardization of acupuncture assures the patients that Licensed Acupuncturists have had extensive training, knowledge, and experience, which includes safe acupuncture practices.

Acupuncture is inherently safe when practiced properly. 

Loose-fitting clothing is ideal. There are many points on the hands, feet, arms and legs that are accessible with loose-fitting clothing.  Your acupuncturist will have gowns and drapes at the clinic if needed.

The distinction between seeing a licensed acupuncturist for acupuncture versus your MD or physical therapist, is the amount of training and experience in acupuncture and Eastern medicine.  Although both the MD and physical therapist are of course highly skilled in their specialties, the acupuncturist is the specialist of acupuncture.

The WHO recommends only 200 hours of training for physicians who want to incorporate acupuncture in their medical practices (ncchi.alm.gov/articles/PMC5512332), while a licensed acupuncturist will spend 3 to 8 years in a Master's level and/or Doctorate level training equating to a minimum of about 2000 hours of focused acupuncture training.

Beyond just the hours, Acupuncture is a tool in a larger system of Eastern Medicine. Acupuncturists are thus Eastern Medicine Practitioners, and when using the tool of Acupuncture, it is done with extensive knowledge of the whole system of Eastern Medicine.

This makes the diagnosis and treatment choices part of in-depth holistic treatment.  Both work, however, the holistic version is how the medicine has been prescribed for over 2500 years, and it is how it is most effective.

Physical therapists can do “dry needling” which is using the acupuncture tool (needle) to release trigger points in the muscles. This practice is not actually termed acupuncture since it does not involve systemic or constitutional diagnosis nor treatment.  Your acupuncturist can do trigger point release as well as the entire treatment based on Eastern Medicine.  

Acupuncture points reside on channels which are energetic pathways that run throughout the entire body. These channels are linked to each other as well as to different organs. Using this knowledge of the interrelationship between the channels and organs, an acupuncturist will choose points to effect respective changes.

Since the different channels run the extent of the body in different pathways, a point on the one end of the channel is effective in eliciting a change throughout the channel all the way to the other end.

A point on the foot can therefore be used to treat the head, for example.

Changes that occur in the physiology after an acupuncture treatment have been measured with scientific processes such as functional MRI's which show that what has taken place is more than the placebo effect.

Yes! Many insurance policies cover acupuncture, however, we do not claim that yours does. Policies can differ greatly in terms of deductible and percentage of coverage for acupuncture.  We can verify coverage and submit your claim.

If we don't carry your specific insurance at this time, you can still possibly get reimbursed by your health insurance company for out-of-network acupuncture. If your health insurance covers out-of-network acupuncture, we can provide you with a standard insurance receipt (called a 'superbill') to mail to your insurance company for partial or full reimbursement (depending on the specifics of your health insurance plan).