Welcome to the Muscle Therapy and Acupuncture Center.
The following information is intended to help you better
understand the ancient healing arts of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine, so that you can relax and get the
most from your treatments. We want you to feel comfortable
during your treatment and encourage your questions.
Traditional Oriental Medicine is hardly new. For over
3,000 years it has been used to help people heal from
a wide variety of illnesses or "diseases".
Your treatment may involve one or more of the following
aspects of Oriental Medicine:
How
Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture:
The insertion of very fine needles into specific
points on the body. These needles are so small that
they will actually fit inside a regular hypodermic
needle! These needles are pre-sterilized and used
only once.
Electro-Acupuncture: The application of minute
pulses of energy to the needles after they have
been inserted. This feels like a ticking or tapping
on the needle.
Nutritional Counseling: Many illnesses are aggravated
or helped by certain foods or beverages. We may encourage
you to decrease or increase your intake of specific
foods.
Vitamin and Mineral Therapy: If there is a nutrient
that can help your specific condition, we may recommend
it. The vitamins and minerals we have are of the highest
quality, which means they are very effective. We may
also recommend a supplement that we do not carry, but
maybe available in most health food stores.
Lifestyle Counseling: Our job is to help you
regain and maintain good health. We will make every
effort to share with you what activities will help or
hinder your progress.
COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED:
How long are the treatments? Plan to be
in the office for about an hour and a half for the first
treatment. You will need to fill out forms and we will
take time to go through your health history in detail.
Subsequent treatments may last 45-60 minutes. If you
are pressed for time, please tell me or the receptionist
when you arrive. We like to give you plenty of time
to relax, but we can adjust the length of the session
if necessary.
What happens during the treatment, and what does
it feel like? After the acupuncturist assesses
your condition, she/he will insert a number of very
fine needles into the skin. Insertion of the needle
often feels like a mosquito bite or less! The acupuncturist
then turns down the lights and puts on soft music so
you can relax while she/he is out of the room. The needles
are usually left in for 20-30 minutes, and the acupuncturist
will check on you once during this time.
What do the needles do? The needles cause
the body to release it's own natural pain relievers
and mood elevators, such as beta-endorphins and serotonin.
This will help to relieve pain and relax you. Some people
get so relaxed they actually fall asleep during the
treatment! The needles also increase the circulation
(nerve and blood supply) to the area, which helps the
area to heal. Other chemicals (such as ACTH) are released
that help decrease inflammation, which helps in painful
conditions such as arthritis. Lastly, the immune system
of the body is boosted by acupuncture. The body has
an incredible ability to heal itself, and the acupuncture
just helps it along.
Could I bruise from the treatment? As
with any needle procedure, bruising is a possibility.
If you normallv bruise easily your chances of bruising
during a treatment are greater. If you have been using
aspirin or other blood thinners the possibility is also
greater.
Will a treatment ever make me feel worse?
A very small percentage of patients (less than 5%) may
notice an exacerbation (temporary flare up) of their
condition after the first or second treatment. This
is rare and is usually a good sign. After the exacerbation
subsides the symptoms are much better and in some cases,
gone!
How often do you have treatments? This
is our most frequently asked, and most difficult-to-answer
question. How soon the condition will improve depends
on a number of factors: how long you have had the condition,
your age, the strength of your immune system, which
condition you have, how often do you have treatments, what
your diet and exercise programs are like, etc. Some
problems take 3 treatments, some 30. Most people notice
a difference within 4-6 treatments. They may need many
more treatments than this, but there is a definite change
in the condition within 4-6 treatments. It is not uncommon
to notice an improvement after one treatment but don't
worry if you don't. As you have more treatments the
change will be stronger and last longer. Be patient
- you didn't get in the shape you are in overnight and
it won't change overnight either.
Will insurance cover acupuncture? In many
cases insurance will not cover acupuncture. However,
your receipt contains all the information your insurance
company should need to process your claim. Attach the
receipt to your insurance form and send to your agent/company.
What is your payment policy and fee structure?
Payment is expected at time of treatment.
Acupuncture - initial session $75.00
(Consultation fee of $20 is included in initial session
fee)
