Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is a very safe form of therapy, without the side effects associated with conventional pharmaceutical treatments. It is safe in diabetics and most people on blood-thinning medications. Only disposable, sterile needles are used. Prior to the industrial age, gold and silver acupuncture needles were sterilized on the flame. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed acupuncturists in 1996 and requires that only sterilized, individually packaged, and disposable needles be used. This eliminates the possibility of transmitting any communicable diseases via contaminated needles. Very few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA.
Is acupuncture painful?
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. You usually feel no or very minimal pain. During acupuncture treatments, you may feel some qi (energy) sensations such as distension, heaviness, numbness, tingling, chill, or heat. These sensations are normal. Each person's experience could be different depending on the body constitution and sensitivity.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments needed depends on many individual factors such as the duration of illness, general state of energy, body constitution, lifestyle, and frequency of initial treatments, which are all taken into consideration. Generally speaking, acute conditions require fewer numbers of treatments than more chronic diseases, although there are instances where acupuncture has brought quick therapeutic effects to many chronic problems.
In the initial period of treatments, two or three sessions per week are generally required. Subsequent treatment frequencies will decrease to once a week or once a month, until there is only a need for an occasional preventative check-up as the condition improves.
In the initial period of treatments, two or three sessions per week are generally required. Subsequent treatment frequencies will decrease to once a week or once a month, until there is only a need for an occasional preventative check-up as the condition improves.
What can I expect during my first visit and follow-up?
During your first visit, Jenny will ask you about your health condition, lifestyle, and emotional well being. She will perform a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based exam and pulse diagnosis to obtain a complete picture of your treatment needs. With the pulse examination, Jenny could know a lot of things about your physical conditions. Please inform her about all medical treatments and medications you are receiving and all current and previous medical conditions. Jenny will make a TCM diagnosis based on all the information that she collects about you and offer specific recommendations for healthier lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, and an acupuncture treatment plan. Your initial visit usually takes at least one and a half hours, including a consultation and a treatment.
Follow-up visits take about an hour. Jenny usually does a quick intake to make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan based on your body's response to the previous treatment.
Jenny recommends that you eat something at least 30 minutes before your treatment. No alcohol or drugs are allowed before the treatments.
Follow-up visits take about an hour. Jenny usually does a quick intake to make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan based on your body's response to the previous treatment.
Jenny recommends that you eat something at least 30 minutes before your treatment. No alcohol or drugs are allowed before the treatments.