Acupuncture
Frequently Asked Questions:
How should I prepare for an Acupuncture treatment?
What if I don’t believe in Acupuncture?
From a “traditional” point of view, how does Acupuncture work?
From a modern, scientific perspective, how does Acupuncture work?
What are Acupuncture points? What are Meridians and Channels?
How many treatments will I need?
Are Acupuncture needles reused?
Are the Practitioners Clean Needle Certified?
What is the difference between Licensed Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Naturopathic Physicians, Osteopathic Physicians, and Medical Doctors who practice Acupuncture?
How should I prepare for an Acupuncture treatment?
Please wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing to your Acupuncture treatment. Loose clothing allows your practitioner easy access to most commonly used Acupuncture points, and will help you feel relaxed during your treatment. If clothing is an issue, a gown will be provided. Please be sure to eat a light meal or snack an hour or so prior to your treatment (avoid eating a large, heavy meal).
What if I don’t believe in Acupuncture?
One of the biggest misconceptions concerning Acupuncture is that it acts only as a placebo. While all medical treatment, including “no treatment,” may have a placebo effect, randomized controlled trials, or RCTs, have shown that Acupuncture is an effective and viable modality for a wide variety of conditions. You are not required to believe in Acupuncture for it to work. In fact, skeptics are often pleasantly surprised to discover how beneficial and helpful Acupuncture is.
The effectiveness of Acupuncture is especially interesting in animal studies, where positive results transcend the placebo effect (which is based on human expectation and anticipation). Studies have shown Acupuncture to be helpful in treating certain conditions in horses, dogs, and cats. Acupuncture works very well for these animals, demonstrating that a “belief” in Acupuncture is not required for it to work.
Testing for an Acupuncture placebo in humans is challenging because of the often flawed methodologies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the way in which Acupuncture is actually practiced. Acupuncture treatments are based on differential diagnosis on a patient-to-patient basis, while RCTs tend to select a “generalized treatment,” which may or may not reflect the type of treatment a patient would receive in actual practice. Despite these difficulties, recent work at universities such as the University of Vermont, have concluded that Acupuncture acts as more than a placebo. For more information on this subject, we recommend the following articles:
From a “traditional” point of view, how does Acupuncture work?
Human beings are unique bio-energetic systems. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has acknowledged the vital life force flowing through all living things called Qi. In western culture, Qi is often translated as “life energy.”
In the human body, Qi flows along pathways related to the organs, circulatory, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. When the Qi in our bodies is in balance, we feel healthy and strong. When the balance of our Qi is disturbed due to trauma, poor diet, medication, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors, or excessive emotional issues, this can lead to a weakened immune system, susceptibility to colds and infections, emotional difficulties, infertility, pain, dysfunction, and illness.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on correcting energetic imbalances and stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal itself, treating the root cause of disease while simultaneously addressing related symptoms. Acupuncture balances the Qi of the body to relieve pain and dysfunction, boost recuperative abilities, and promote wellness and vitality.
From a modern, scientific perspective, how does Acupuncture work?
Scientific research has shown that stimulation of specific Acupuncture points has a measurable effect on the nervous system, leads to the release of neurotransmitters in the brain, reduces inflammation, and increases circulation of blood and body fluids. While these effects are known, there are gaps in the theories that attempt to explain exactly “how” Acupuncture does these things. One explanation for how Acupuncture can relieve pain is that Acupuncture needles stimulate Type II and III afferent nerve fibers, sending impulses to the spinal cord, and activating specific brain centers (spinal cord, midbrain, and hypothalamus/pituitary). This stimulation promotes analgesia, or pain relief.
For more information, please see the following:
ARTICLES and RESEARCH
What are Acupuncture points? What are Meridians and Channels?
Acupuncture points are specific locations for the insertion of Acupuncture needles, and for the application of external modalities such as Acupressure, Massage, Cupping, Guasha, and Moxabustion.
Acupuncture points are not randomly placed on the body. The majority of the points lie along specific pathways, traditionally known as Meridians or Channels. The terms “Meridians” and “Channels” are used relatively interchangeably.
Meridians are traditionally viewed as pathways for the movement of Qi, or energy throughout the body. As with the nervous and vascular systems, Meridians serve to connect and transmit information to different parts and regions of the body. Stimulation of Acupuncture points on a particular Meridian will influence the flow of Qi along that Meridian. This helps to explain why placing a needle at one point on the body can influence an area on a different part of the body, for example, using Acupuncture points on the hands and feet to treat headache.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required depends upon the severity of the issue being treated, whether the condition is acute or chronic, individual response, and the patient’s underlying constitution. In this system of medicine there is a cumulative effect, whereby the benefit of each treatment increases from one visit to the next. Patients typically see improvement within 1-3 treatments. Most will experience significant improvement within 6-12 visits. Some patients opt to come in periodically, for example, once every few months, or with the change of seasons, as part of their plan for preventative care and health maintenance.
At Ann Arbor Healing Arts, we will formulate a treatment plan for you and monitor your progress from treatment to treatment. We strive to provide our patients with an accurate prognosis and will refer out to other healthcare providers if we feel we are unable to help you reach your healthcare goals.
Are Acupuncture needles reused?
No! We use only FDA-approved, single-use, disposable needles that are sterilized by the manufacturer. After treatment, needles are safely removed and placed in a medical waste container for proper disposal. Our Acupuncture needles are never reused.
Are the Practitioners Clean Needle Certified?
Yes. Our Acupuncturists are Clean Needle Technique Certified by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), a national organization which certifies practitioners in Clean Needle Technique for Acupuncture. Clean Needle Technique (CNT) is the standard by which Acupuncture is practiced in the United States. CNT was created to maintain optimal health and safety precautions for patients and practitioners.
What is the difference between Licensed Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Naturopathic Physicians, Osteopathic Physicians, and Medical Doctors who practice Acupuncture?
The difference is in to the amount of classroom and clinical training a practitioner has received.
Licensed Acupuncturists are required to complete an extensive, several-thousand-hour training program in Acupuncture and Chinese Medical theory. To become a Licensed Acupuncturist in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires that a candidate complete a 3-1/2 year, full-time, post-graduate program in Acupuncture, accredited by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). To practice, Licensed Acupuncturists must also pass the NCCAOM Board Exam in Acupuncture.
Most MDs and Doctors of Chiropractic, Naturopathy, and Osteopathy have only very basic training in Acupuncture. Typically, this training consists of approximately 200 hours of instruction. These practitioners generally use Acupuncture as an adjunct to their usual areas of expertise.
The Licensed Acupuncturists at Ann Arbor Healing Arts have completed more than 4,000 hours of postgraduate training in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Traditional Oriental Medicine, and received over 1,000 hours of hands-on supervised clinical training and experience.
During their formal training in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, our practitioners also received training in Western Biomedical Sciences including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.
In addition to being Licensed Acupuncturists, our practitioners are Diplomates in Oriental Medicine (Dipl OM), meaning they have successfully passed the NCCAOM Board Exams in Acupuncture, Oriental Medical Theory, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Biomedicine.
One should always feel welcome to ask their medical practitioner about the level of training they have received in Acupuncture. For more information, please see: