Guide to Frequently Asked Questions
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a technique of inserting needles into points along meridians of the body. These meridians are energy channels that move “Qi” (vital energy) to maintain proper balance and harmony of Yin and Yang. The flow of Qi becomes unbalanced when illness or injury occurs. Acupuncture can restore this balance and harmony and is used to treat a wide range of ailments.
The medical effectiveness of acupuncture has gained considerable attention and respect in western countries over the past 50 years. At the same time, a new model for health has emerged that is more aware of the intimate and powerful connection between body, mind, and spirit. These interconnections are integral to acupuncture theory, and acupuncture treatment allows natural healing processes to unfold. Even though acupuncture is an ancient tradition, it can address many of the manifestations of illness in our modern society.
Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide variety of illnesses for more than 2,500 years. Acupuncture is one component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A diagnosis is made based on a thorough patient interview to understand how to balance the flow of the body's energetic systems. The diagnosis includes the observation of the pulse and the tongue. Once a diagnosis is made, acupuncture points are selected. The focus of the treatment may be to balance the yin and yang of the body: excess or deficient patterns, hot or cold conditions, or exterior and interior patterns. For example, a treatment may need to build a person's energy if the disease stems from a deficiency. If the condition arises from an excess of energy then we will need to disperse energy in the treatment. Inserting acupuncture needles at the appropriate points promotes the flow of energy and restores balance throughout the body. To read more about the benefits of Acupuncture please read the National Institutes of Health Acupuncture Fact Sheet.
Will My Health Insurance pay for Acupuncture?
More Insurance companies are covering acupuncture treatments as part of their basic coverage. Call us, and we will be happy to inquire if your insurance policy includes acupuncture treatments. If they do, we will be able to bill your insurance plan. Some insurance plans require that you see a medical professional such as an M.D. This provision will allow you to be treated by a board certified physician, such as Dr. Mars, with the widest knowledge base. We also have affordable cash rates if there is no acupuncture coverage. You can always consider switching plans to one that provides this coverage.
How Long is the Initial Appointment?
The first appointment is generally 1 to 1 ½ hours. During this appointment, you will discuss your medical history and any concerns you have about your health. If acupuncture is an appropriate means of treatment, Dr. Mars will offer a session on the same day. If acupuncture is not a suitable form of treatment, Dr. Mars will make further recommendations and/or referrals in order to ensure high quality care. Dr. Mars works closely with other health professionals, including chiropractors, physical therapists and orthopedic doctors, and he may also recommend x-ray studies or MRI.
How Often Will I Need to See the Doctor?
Everyone is unique; therefore, your treatment will be as well. Your condition and reaction to treatment will determine how often you will need to be seen by the doctor. Generally, Dr. Mars may see you about once a week for 4-6 visits. This time frame is recommended to allow for a fair trial of your treatment. Dr. Mars will discuss this with you during your visit.
Will Maintenance or Tune-up Appointments Be Necessary?
Routine maintenance visits are very important to keep your body on track. An individual’s condition will determine when and if you will need tune-up visits. Some people will need to see Dr. Mars on a monthly maintenance cycle, while others come in every 6-8 weeks or with the change of seasons.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is safe and without any serious side effects, one of the reasons for its acceptance. We use ultra thin, sterile, single use stainless steel needles, and they are disposed of after each treatment. Acupuncture has treated millions of Americans and is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates and classifies acupuncture needles as medical devices, and rates them in the category of "safe and effective." The National Institutes of Health conducted a two and one-half year study of acupuncture, electrical acupuncture and microcurrent therapies, and published their Consensus Statement in November, 1997. The Consensus Statement from the NIH states that, "While it is often thought that there is substantial research evidence to support conventional medical practices; this is frequently not the case. This does not mean that these treatments are ineffective. The data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies. One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions."
How Big Are The Needles?
We use ultra thin stainless (surgical) steel needles. The typical acupuncture needle measures .25 to .30 millimeters in diameter, and 30-50 millimeters in length. This diameter is similar to fine thin hair. Acupuncture needles, unlike hypodermic needles, are neither hollow nor rigid, and the tip is shaped to increase the patient's comfort during insertion. It has often been stated that anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen acupuncture needles will fit inside the bore of a hypodermic needle; this depends, of course, on the diameter of all needles under consideration. Some Japanese-made needles are quite a bit finer than their Chinese counterparts. Interestingly enough, needle diameter has very little to do with insertion comfort; needling technique and needle tip shape are much bigger factors.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Contemporary Western medicine has developed more than 17 different ways of explaining the effectiveness of acupuncture, but there is no unified theory. The traditional Chinese medicine theory of acupuncture, however, does provide a unified framework for clinical evaluation and treatment (the channel system, five-phase theory, yin/yang theory). Western and Chinese medicine agree on the fact that acupuncture is actually effective. Western formal studies, using techniques ranging from blood serum analysis to MRI & PET scans, have documented acupuncture's efficacy in ways that are compatible with Western scientific methodology. The outcomes of many studies suggest that acupuncture is more effective when applied by a skillful practitioner using traditional theories.
Do I Have To Believe In Acupuncture For It To Work?
Acupuncture's theoretical models are not based on faith. Acupuncture works on horses, dogs, babies, and people in comas. Its validity arises from empirical observation, and the effectiveness of acupuncture is the result of its application by skillful practitioners. Simply put: faith is not a requirement.
What are the Acupuncture Channels?
Channels or "meridians", are rivers of energy that flow in the body. Acupuncture points are located along the 12 meridians and 8 extra channels. There are 365 mapped acupuncture points along the 12 channels, as well as hundreds of extra points found all over the body. Qi (pronounced "chi") is the Chinese word for the energy moving through out the channels. The movement of Qi is fundamental in balancing the Yin and Yang of the body. The extremes of excess and deficiency lead to disease. Acupuncture points are selected according to the unique presentation (symptoms) of the patient, as well as underlying constitutional excesses or deficiencies.
How Can Acupuncture Help Me?
What Are Some Medical Conditions Acupuncture Helps?
For more information, please consider visiting some of the following websites:
MedicalAcupuncture.org
Acupuncture.com
NCCAM.nih.gov/health/acupuncture
WebMD.com
Wikipedia.com
Acupuncturetoday.com
Holisticonline.com
Americanpregancy.org
Acupuncture is a technique of inserting needles into points along meridians of the body. These meridians are energy channels that move “Qi” (vital energy) to maintain proper balance and harmony of Yin and Yang. The flow of Qi becomes unbalanced when illness or injury occurs. Acupuncture can restore this balance and harmony and is used to treat a wide range of ailments.
The medical effectiveness of acupuncture has gained considerable attention and respect in western countries over the past 50 years. At the same time, a new model for health has emerged that is more aware of the intimate and powerful connection between body, mind, and spirit. These interconnections are integral to acupuncture theory, and acupuncture treatment allows natural healing processes to unfold. Even though acupuncture is an ancient tradition, it can address many of the manifestations of illness in our modern society.
Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide variety of illnesses for more than 2,500 years. Acupuncture is one component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A diagnosis is made based on a thorough patient interview to understand how to balance the flow of the body's energetic systems. The diagnosis includes the observation of the pulse and the tongue. Once a diagnosis is made, acupuncture points are selected. The focus of the treatment may be to balance the yin and yang of the body: excess or deficient patterns, hot or cold conditions, or exterior and interior patterns. For example, a treatment may need to build a person's energy if the disease stems from a deficiency. If the condition arises from an excess of energy then we will need to disperse energy in the treatment. Inserting acupuncture needles at the appropriate points promotes the flow of energy and restores balance throughout the body. To read more about the benefits of Acupuncture please read the National Institutes of Health Acupuncture Fact Sheet.
Will My Health Insurance pay for Acupuncture?
More Insurance companies are covering acupuncture treatments as part of their basic coverage. Call us, and we will be happy to inquire if your insurance policy includes acupuncture treatments. If they do, we will be able to bill your insurance plan. Some insurance plans require that you see a medical professional such as an M.D. This provision will allow you to be treated by a board certified physician, such as Dr. Mars, with the widest knowledge base. We also have affordable cash rates if there is no acupuncture coverage. You can always consider switching plans to one that provides this coverage.
How Long is the Initial Appointment?
The first appointment is generally 1 to 1 ½ hours. During this appointment, you will discuss your medical history and any concerns you have about your health. If acupuncture is an appropriate means of treatment, Dr. Mars will offer a session on the same day. If acupuncture is not a suitable form of treatment, Dr. Mars will make further recommendations and/or referrals in order to ensure high quality care. Dr. Mars works closely with other health professionals, including chiropractors, physical therapists and orthopedic doctors, and he may also recommend x-ray studies or MRI.
How Often Will I Need to See the Doctor?
Everyone is unique; therefore, your treatment will be as well. Your condition and reaction to treatment will determine how often you will need to be seen by the doctor. Generally, Dr. Mars may see you about once a week for 4-6 visits. This time frame is recommended to allow for a fair trial of your treatment. Dr. Mars will discuss this with you during your visit.
Will Maintenance or Tune-up Appointments Be Necessary?
Routine maintenance visits are very important to keep your body on track. An individual’s condition will determine when and if you will need tune-up visits. Some people will need to see Dr. Mars on a monthly maintenance cycle, while others come in every 6-8 weeks or with the change of seasons.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is safe and without any serious side effects, one of the reasons for its acceptance. We use ultra thin, sterile, single use stainless steel needles, and they are disposed of after each treatment. Acupuncture has treated millions of Americans and is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates and classifies acupuncture needles as medical devices, and rates them in the category of "safe and effective." The National Institutes of Health conducted a two and one-half year study of acupuncture, electrical acupuncture and microcurrent therapies, and published their Consensus Statement in November, 1997. The Consensus Statement from the NIH states that, "While it is often thought that there is substantial research evidence to support conventional medical practices; this is frequently not the case. This does not mean that these treatments are ineffective. The data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies. One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions."
How Big Are The Needles?
We use ultra thin stainless (surgical) steel needles. The typical acupuncture needle measures .25 to .30 millimeters in diameter, and 30-50 millimeters in length. This diameter is similar to fine thin hair. Acupuncture needles, unlike hypodermic needles, are neither hollow nor rigid, and the tip is shaped to increase the patient's comfort during insertion. It has often been stated that anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen acupuncture needles will fit inside the bore of a hypodermic needle; this depends, of course, on the diameter of all needles under consideration. Some Japanese-made needles are quite a bit finer than their Chinese counterparts. Interestingly enough, needle diameter has very little to do with insertion comfort; needling technique and needle tip shape are much bigger factors.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Contemporary Western medicine has developed more than 17 different ways of explaining the effectiveness of acupuncture, but there is no unified theory. The traditional Chinese medicine theory of acupuncture, however, does provide a unified framework for clinical evaluation and treatment (the channel system, five-phase theory, yin/yang theory). Western and Chinese medicine agree on the fact that acupuncture is actually effective. Western formal studies, using techniques ranging from blood serum analysis to MRI & PET scans, have documented acupuncture's efficacy in ways that are compatible with Western scientific methodology. The outcomes of many studies suggest that acupuncture is more effective when applied by a skillful practitioner using traditional theories.
Do I Have To Believe In Acupuncture For It To Work?
Acupuncture's theoretical models are not based on faith. Acupuncture works on horses, dogs, babies, and people in comas. Its validity arises from empirical observation, and the effectiveness of acupuncture is the result of its application by skillful practitioners. Simply put: faith is not a requirement.
What are the Acupuncture Channels?
Channels or "meridians", are rivers of energy that flow in the body. Acupuncture points are located along the 12 meridians and 8 extra channels. There are 365 mapped acupuncture points along the 12 channels, as well as hundreds of extra points found all over the body. Qi (pronounced "chi") is the Chinese word for the energy moving through out the channels. The movement of Qi is fundamental in balancing the Yin and Yang of the body. The extremes of excess and deficiency lead to disease. Acupuncture points are selected according to the unique presentation (symptoms) of the patient, as well as underlying constitutional excesses or deficiencies.
How Can Acupuncture Help Me?
- Relatively painless treatments
- Feel better & eliminate pain
- Work more productively
- Improve your sleep
- Improves mental clarity so you will manage your time more effectively.
- Smooth out emotions
- Stress reduction
- Manage stress more effectively
- Feel more relaxed and centered
- Improve athletic performance
- Have more endurance and flexibility
- Let go of addictions
- Have more energy for the things you want to do
- Acupuncture helps reduce cravings, keeps you calm and enhances detoxification
What Are Some Medical Conditions Acupuncture Helps?
- Addictions: alcohol, nicotine, food, drugs
- Circulatory problems: hypertension, post-angina symptoms, mild arhythmias
- Emotional and Psychological: stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia
- Gastrointestinal: heartburn, peptic ulcer disease, constipation, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, anorexia, and irritable bowel syndrome
- Gynecological: irregular and painful periods, PMS, infertility in women and men, menopausal symptoms
- Musculo-skeletal: back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, bursitis, sprains and strains
- Neurological: headache, migraine, sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, post-stroke symptoms
- Psychospiritual balance: spiritual awakening and growth, heightening of energy and awareness, life transitions, PTSD
- Respiratory ailments: emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, seasonal allergies, bronchitis
- Urological: stress incontinence and urgency, sexual dysfunction, prostatitis
- Other: fatigue, support for chronic and debilitating conditions, side effects of chemotherapy
For more information, please consider visiting some of the following websites:
MedicalAcupuncture.org
Acupuncture.com
NCCAM.nih.gov/health/acupuncture
WebMD.com
Wikipedia.com
Acupuncturetoday.com
Holisticonline.com
Americanpregancy.org