## What is acupuncture? Why should I get it?”
Acupuncture, a facet of Chinese Medicine, is based on an energetic model of the body rather than the biochemical model of Western medicine. The ancient Chinese recognized a vital energy inherent in all living things and called this energy Qi (pronounced chee). Over hundreds - if not thousands - of years of practice, ancient physicians discovered a system of this cyclic energy flowing in the human body along specific pathways called channels or meridians. Each meridian is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. **When the energy in the body's pathways becomes obstructed, deficient, or excessive, disease occurs and symptoms manifest. The corresponding organs and muscles do not get their necessary flow of energy and nutrients to properly perform their physiological functions.** To learn more about acupuncture meridians, click [here][1].
[1]: /writings
The meridians communicate with the surface of the body at specific locations called acupuncture points. Needles inserted in these points influence the energy that flows to internal organs through the corresponding meridians. Acupuncture can also affect specific areas of pain associated with injury or trauma. A needle inserted near the area of overstrained muscle or tendon will adjust the flow of energy and nutrients to that area, thereby reducing pain and accelerating the healing process.
Using a diagnostic methodology of pulse and tongue diagnosis coupled with findings obtained by ask about related symptoms and brief physical exam, acupuncturists determine the pathology affecting the energy flow through the meridians to internal organs, muscles, skin, and joints. They then develop a treatment protocol to resolve the patient's condition.
From western biomedical research, we understand that acupuncture influences a number of physiological functions such as release of endorphins (natural pain killing chemicals) by the brain, restoration of proper circulation in diseased areas, and stimulation of hormonal glands and immune system function. Research into the effects of acupuncture is still young. Scientists discover more information every year that helps us understand more fully how acupuncture works from a Biomedical perspective.
There are four main reasons patients consider acupuncture treatment:
* Most commonly, patients have a condition that is not recognized by or doesn’t respond well to conventional western care. They are seeking an alternative treatment option that can effectively provide a solution to their healthcare issue.
* The conventional treatment offered to by their Biomedical healthcare providers requires drugs with undesirable side effects or an unwanted surgery.
* Patients are taking a list of many western drugs that are expensive, have side effects, or interfere with one another. Often Chinese medicine can treat these conditions so that the drugs can be withdrawn.
* Patients prefer a natural, holistic medical approach to healthcare.
## Does acupuncture hurt? What type of needles do you use?
Needles that acupuncturists use are called filiform needles. They are very different from the hypodermic syringe needles that 'shots' are given through in that they are smaller, solid, and cannot inject any substances. In fact, acupuncture needles are so thin that a standard-sized hypodermic syringe can hold about 40 average-sized acupuncture needles inside of it.
When performed correctly, acupuncture is not painful. I typically use acupuncture needles that are 0.16mm thick. Over my four years of training I mastered the technique of inserting these tiny, delicate needles into the body with minimal discomfort to my patients. In fact, many of my patients do not even feel the needles being inserted and some even fall asleep during the treatment.
You can expect to feel: a very tiny pinch at the moment the needle is tapped in, or in many instances no sensation at all. Once the needle is in place it is normal to feel a pulling, heavy, or throbbing sensation, which can be initially startling if it is an unfamiliar feeling, but should not be painful. You may also feel a change in temperature (warmth or coolness) in your body or local to where the needle is placed.
## I'm afraid of needles, can I still benefit from Chinese Medicine?
For patients who have an aversion to needles, I am trained in contact needling. Contact needling is a technique in which thicker, blunted needles are held to the skin, and the selected acupuncture point is stimulated without actual penetration of the skin surface. This is a very effective and entirely painless method of acupuncture. The ancient classics of China, such as the Ling Shu, describe nine types of needles, several of which were never intended to pierce the skin. Three of these non-inserted needles – the Enshin, the Teishin, and the Zanshin – are considered, for those who know how to wield them, basic to the practice of acupuncture. I use this technique with every bit of success as with regular needle insertion. *If you are interested in receiving contact needling in place of traditional needle insertion, please discuss this with me before or during your first treatment.*
Additionally, there are many other mondalities within the scope of Chinese Medicine that can be used in place of acupuncture needling, such as herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, and massage.
## What if I don’t want a particular area of my body needled?
I specialize in creating individualized treatment plans. If you have specific concerns about a treatment modality or if you are not comfortable with certain areas of your body being touched or needled, please let me know. Your safety and comfort are my priority. If you need to remain seated rather than lying down, are more comfortable on your side, would prefer to have your hands free during treatment, or have other concerns, please let me know during the intake and I will make sure to accommodate your needs.
## Is acupuncture safe for children?
Children of all ages can be treated and respond well to acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment. Parents are turning to acupuncture because it offers a safe, natural and effective approach to pediatric care.
One of my special areas of training is Pediatric Acupuncture, and while in Japan I learned an advanced treatment modality called “Shonishin.” Shonishin Pediatric Acupuncture (sho=little, ni=children, shin=needle) is a specialized form of treatment for infants and children that became popular for its success in the 1700s in the Osaka region of Japan. To this day, Japanese parents regularly bring children for Shonishin treatment, and this approach is increasing in popularity around the world. The Shonishin method involves using blunted metal instruments designed for children to painlessly stimulate acupuncture meridians in order to reestablish proper energy flow. According to classic texts on Chinese medical physiology, children’s meridians are not fully formed until around puberty, so using specific acupuncture points is not necessary until then. Because of this, children also typically have more rapidly progressing illnesses and more brief courses of treatment as compared with adults. For adolescents/teenagers, I offer contact needling or regular needle insertion. *For more information on contact needling, please see the section called, “What can I do if I want acupuncture, but I'm afraid of needles?”.*
For more information on Pediatric care with acupuncture and herbal medicine please click [here][2].
[2]: /pediatrics-and-family-medicine
***Pediatric Acupuncture may help with:**
colds/flu
asthma
seasonal allergies
hyperactivity/behavioral stabilization
digestive/Gastrointestinal difficulty
skin conditions (rash/eczema/hives)
developmental delays
anxiety/phobias/night terrors
bedwetting
ear infections*
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## How do acupuncturists make sure their patients don't get infections?
Acupuncturists are required by law in Pennsylvania to use disposable, one-time-use, sterilized needles and earn certification in Clean Needle Technique per current OSHA standards. I take great care to minimize risk of infection for my patients by keeping up to date and complying with these standards of care.
Infection from acupuncture needle has been known to occur, although very infrequently. Most of those rare cases are due to improper training regarding Clean Needle Technique or happen with patients who are immune-compromised. If you have concerns about infection, I encourage you to communicate them and I will be happy to discuss solutions with you.
## Are there any risks or side effects with acupuncture treatment?
Acupuncture has been shown to be a very safe treatment option and is used by millions of Americans every year. There are minimal risks and side effects associated with acupuncture treatment.
In order to further minimize risk, Acupuncturists are required to undergo a four-year, extensive and rigorous masters level education. This training includes: acupuncture, herbal medicine, Oriental medical philosophy, a detailed study of western Biomedical anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, orthopedics, gynecology, and pharmacology, along with training and certification in Clean Needle Technique. I have passed all of the comprehensive national board examinations administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and am licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. As required by law, I use pre-sterilized, disposable, single-use needles to ensure your complete safety.
After an acupuncture treatment you will be advised to rest for a period of time and drink extra water. Most people feel both very relaxed and energized after an acupuncture treatment. Sometimes this relaxed feeling borders on very slight disorientation, like waking from a long nap. On occasion you may experience a small bruise where a needle was inserted. This may present as an itching sensation after the needle is removed, and can be helped by applying pressure or a warm compress for a few minutes after the treatment. Occasionally, during a first treatment a patient may feel queasy or lightheaded. This is alleviated by practitioner experience and care, along with performing treatments with the patient lying on a treatment table as opposed to sitting up in a chair.
According to Arya Neilsen, Ph.D of The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in her 2015 article, *The Science of Acupuncture Safety: Risks, Harms, and Ancient Goodness*,
> The reporting of adverse events in clinical trials as well as safety surveys has helped establish a positive safety record in the West (White 2004; MacPherson et al. 2001), China (Birch et al. 2013; He et al. 2012), and Japan (Yamashita et al. 2001); in the treatment of children (Adams et al. 2011; Jindal et al. 2008) as well as for pregnant women (Park et al. 2014).
>
> Patients may experience minor side effects such as feeling relaxed, elated, tired, or having point sensation or itching etc. (MacPherson and Thomas 2005) or slight bleeding and hematoma [a small bruise] on needle withdrawal (Witt et al. 2009).
>
> There are rare serious complications associated with acupuncture. Reviewers point out that injuries relate directly to insufficient training (White 2004; Yamashita et al. 2001). White (2004) surveyed 12 prospective studies of more than a million treatments reporting ‘the risk of a serious adverse event with acupuncture is estimated to be 0.05 per 10,000 treatments, and 0.55 per 10,000 individual patients. The conclusion was that the risk of serious events occurring in association with acupuncture is very low, and below that of many common medical treatments.
*If you experience any pain, large bruises, swelling, difficulty breathing, or dizziness after an acupuncture treatment, please advise your practitioner or doctor immediately.*
## What happens at the first treatment session?
At your first treatment session, you will be welcomed into the office and we will sit together and discuss the reason for your visit. I will ask you in-depth questions about your health (digestion, sleep habits, past illnesses/hospitalizations, etc.) and specific body systems so that I can place the reason for your visit into the overall pattern of your health. That way, I am able to give you an individualized diagnosis to work from. This intake will last 30-40 minutes on your first visit, and 10-15 minutes on follow-up appointments.
After the intake, you will be asked to lie on the treatment table face-up, and I will take a reading of your radial pulses on both wrists. I will also look at your tongue. Pulse and tongue readings are Classical Chinese diagnostic methods that help to assess the body's internal environment. Then, you will be asked to remove socks, roll up sleeves, etc., and the treatment will begin *(For more information about this, please refer to the section on what to wear to your acupuncture session)*. The treatment may include acupuncture needle insertion, contact needling, cupping, gua sha, and/or massage. The treatment modality is dependent on your Chinese medical diagnosis. Usually, between 5 and 25 needles are inserted - the number of needles used also depends on the diagnosis and treatment strategy.
Once all needles are in place, you will be asked to breathe deeply and relax into the treatment. It is best to lie still and not move your arms or legs too much during the treatment, as moving can affect the needle placement. The lights may be dimmed and I may step out of the room. You will rest on the treatment table with the needles in for approximately 20 minutes, and then the needles will be gently removed. I may feel your wrist pulses again, and that will conclude the treatment. You are then free to take your time coming down off the treatment table and put on your shoes and socks, etc..
The session will be concluded with a brief reassessment of your mood, energy, and/or pain level. Payment and scheduling will take place after this post-treatment evaluation.
## How long does a treatment session take?
The initial treatment takes approximately 1 1/2 hours and includes 30-40 minutes of intake, 10-15 minutes of needle insertion (plus or minus other treatment methods such as moxa or cupping), and 20-30 minutes with the needles in place.
Follow up appointments last from 45 minutes up to 1 hour, and include 10-15 minutes of intake, 10-15 minutes of needle insertion (plus or minus other treatment methods such as moxa or cupping), and 20-30 minutes with the needles in place.
**Pediatric Acupuncture** appointments are typically much shorter than treatments for adults. **No needle insertion is used.** The initial treatment will last about 45 minutes and subsequent treatments will last 20-30 minutes. *A parent or guardian must be present.*
## What do I wear to an acupuncture treatment session?
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. In most cases, patients keep their clothes on for acupuncture treatments. Most of the acupuncture points I will need to locate will be below your elbows and knees, but occasionally I will need to reach points on the thighs, abdomen, chest, back, and/or head, depending on the reason for your visit. For example, if you are coming for sciatic pain, I will most likely need access to points around your hip, thigh, and buttock, as needling local to the pain has been shown to improve treatment results.
If you usually wear make-up, please come to your first treatment session without make-up. Facial/skin complexion and texture is one way to inform your Chinese medical diagnosis. If this will not be possible for any reason, please let me know.
*If you need to change into different clothing after you arrive, there is a private place to do so.*
## How many treatments will I need?
The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative, so almost always more than one treatment is necessary to see significant results. The length of a course of treatment depends on the reason for your visit and the amount of time you have had those symptom(s).
According to various clinical trials, a series of (6-12) treatments are usually necessary to resolve a condition fully, but each case is considered individually and an exact recovery rate cannot be guaranteed. **A consultation is required to determine the approximate time frame within which healing can be expected. **
For some chronic conditions such as some auto-immune diseases, years-long insomnia or intestinal problems, etc., a course of treatment can be more long term, and a maintenance schedule of some sort is likely in order to keep systems running smoothly and steadily after the initial period of relief and resolution.
*For example,* Patient A comes in for help with pain and swelling from a new ankle sprain that happened yesterday. This type of injury responds best with acupuncture treatments a few times a week for two or three weeks, beginning as close to the time of injury as possible.
On the other hand, Patient B gets acupuncture to work toward better management of long-term anxiety and insomnia that they’ve struggled with since they were a teenager. Most likely Patient B will start to see clear changes in the pattern and intensity of their symptoms with regular, weekly treatments over about a month. However, to fully resolve those conditions it could take a course of multiple months, and if the condition is very persistent, periodic maintenance treatments may be necessary after that. Once Patient B finds themself in a place where they’re consistently happy with sleep and anxiety levels, we'll know it's time to reduce the frequency of his treatments. **The goal is to provide as few acupuncture treatments as possible while maintaining the healing progress that has been made.**
## Is your practice inclusive?
Yes. My practice is body/size-positive, LGBTQIA/poly/kink-aware, and activist friendly. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
