Is Dry Needling the same thing?
No. Physicians and Chiropractors sometimes do dry needling to temporarily release muscle pain. Dry needling can be a fairly painful procedure. Acupuncture is done by a licensed Acupuncturist and is not considered a painful procedure. Acupuncturists use a system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to diagnose and treat the underlying cause for the pain. This is often done by noticing very subtle changes in the body and noticing patterns. Acupuncturists are required to do a 3-4 year Masters program to learn this system of diagnosing, and take extensive boards in Acupuncture and Biomedicine to become licensed.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Number of treatments will largely depend on if the condition is acute or chronic. In general, new patients should expect to come weekly for 6-10 weeks, at which point we can being to taper off to an as-needed basis or re-asses our treatment plan. As with many modalities, frequency in the beginning can be crucial to getting results to last more long term. Our goal is long-term relief rather than quick short term fixes. Some patients who are feeling better may choose to come in with the change of the seasons. Five Element Acupuncture has unique treatments to help you adjust to the changing of the phases.
Will I Feel Relief Immediately?
Although that is always our goal, the body takes time to adjust. Qi/Chi/Energy takes about 23.5 hours to circulate the body. Patients commonly report feeling some relief immediately, and with consistency in the beginning, patients very often have an overall decrease to their pain rating or eliminated all together.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Acupuncture needles are as thin as a strand of hair and often times patients don't feel the needles or may experience a little pinch or pin-prick as the needle enters the skin. You may feel a very brief tingling, sensation of heat or electricity, or a dull ache as the needle connects with the acupuncture point. Patients report feeling relaxed during treatment and sometimes even fall asleep. Patients have reported it is not painful compared to Dry Needling.
I'm Afraid of Needles, What Can I Do?
No problem! There are multiple ways we can approach this. We can do quick in & out so you aren't laying with needles in, if that is a concern. This is actually a common style of needling in Five Element Acupuncture! Or we can just do Auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) if that is more comfortable.
We also have no-needle treatments where we can utilize Acupressure, Reiki, Gua Sha or Moxibustion (see our Services page for more or reach out and we will plan the best treatment for you based on your comfort).
Do You Accept Insurance?
We don't currently accept insurance, but we hope to change this. Currently we accept cash or major credit cards. Check back for an update soon!
Is Acupuncture safe for pregnancy?
Yes, and I can speak from experience on this one. Acupuncture can be incredibly helpful when dealing with nausea, heartburn, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, skin breakouts as well as the emotional changes. There are a few points we avoid during pregnancy that are used during labor, and no points on the abdomen. Treatments can easily be adjusted to your comfort.