Acupuncture FAQ
What is Acupuncture?
Traditional Oriental Medicine, which includes Acupuncture as well as Chinese herbal medicine, is one of the oldest forms of medicine in use today, and is regularly used by over a quarter of the worlds population, but just how does acupuncture work?
The practice of acupuncture is literally thousands of years old, and is based on a system of pathways in the body known as the acupuncture "channels" or "meridians," which when manipulated by the placement of needles, can regulate and enhance health. Acupuncture points are stimulated to affect these energetic pathways which can become blocked or imbalanced, causing pain, weakness, restricted motion, emotional or mental issues, and disease.
How Long are Treatments, and How Many Will I Need?
Most acupuncture treatments take about 45-60 minutes from start to finish, although your initial appointment may take a little longer. The actual time you will have the needles in typically ranges from about 20 to 30 minutes. Treatment course and outcome can vary from case to case, and generally acute conditions respond quicker than chronic ones. Thus, some people may require only a handful of treatments, others more. Some people may even experience dramatic results in only one or two sessions.
Once your condition has been assessed, you will be given an idea of how often and how many treatments you may need Typically, a series of acupuncture treatments of 6 -12 visits with a frequency of 1 - 2 times per week will address most problems. Once you have reached a desirable level of relief, occasional "maintenance" treatments may be necessary to maintain the benefits