Acupuncture Therapist is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used successfully for thousands of years—often in combination with herbal remedies and supplements—to treat a wide variety of health problems.
The professionals here at Active Family Chiropractic offer access to some of the most progressive acupuncture services in the area. After examining you thoroughly and talking with you about your general condition as well as your specific symptoms, our acupuncturists will design a treatment plan to help you reach your particular health goals.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
While this therapy is widely practiced around the world today, researchers and clinicians continue to debate precisely how and why it works.
Historically, It is rooted in the ancient idea that illness is caused by imbalances or blockages of energy that flows throughout the body in channels called meridians, and that a skilled practitioner can influence this flow of energy by stimulating specific points along the skin’s surface. A more modern theory is that acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system to release certain chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals are thought to change the way a patient experiences pain and to trigger the release of other types of chemicals that regulate the body’s own internal systems.
Our Approach
We treat patients for a wide variety of conditions using acupuncture. Most patients come to us with a specific health condition—back pain, arthritis, headaches, digestive problems, and so on. In cases where the problem is acute, the treatment plan usually consists of several treatments over a short period of time. With more chronic conditions such as arthritic pain, the treatment plan often involves regular visits spread out over a longer period of time until the desired result is achieved. Many patients also use acupuncture purely for its relaxation benefits. In those cases, the treatment frequency can vary from weekly to quarterly depending on what the patient needs and wants. The patient’s treatment plan will be determined only after an evaluation by the acupuncturist.
Does it hurt? Generally speaking, no. However, depending on the area being treated and a person’s individual sensitivity level, the sensation can vary from person to person. Most people describe the experience as a slight temporary discomfort. Many times, patients don’t even realize that the needles have been inserted until they actually see them.
How long does it take? The first appointment with the acupuncturist, including the initial evaluation, typically takes between 45 minutes and one hour. Treatment will usually be done during the first visit if the patient requests it. Subsequent treatments will take about 20-30 minutes.
One of the distinct benefits of having Acupuncture Therapist available on site here at Active Family Chiropractic is that we can deliver coordinated, collaborative care for our patients. This means we’re able to treat our patients using a combination of biomechanical approaches as well as Eastern medicine approaches.
To Learn More
Even if you’ve received acupuncture treatments in the past, we encourage you to contact us directly to learn more about our philosophy and approach. Here are several links to recommended reading:
- Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis, JAMA Internal Medicine
- A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)The COPD-Acupuncture Trial (CAT), JAMA Internal Medicine
- Acupuncture Is Worth a Try for Chronic Pain, Harvard Medical School
Migraine and Acupuncture: The evidence for effectiveness, British Acupuncture Council - Arthritis and Acupuncture: The evidence for effectiveness, British Acupuncture Council
