Acupuncture Therapy FAQs
Acupuncture therapy FAQs are listed below for your convenience.
If you can’t find the answers to your acupuncture faq below, contact us at 267-403-3085 or email [email protected].
Who is eligible for acupuncture therapy?
Age, sexual orientation, or medical condition are not restrictions for acupuncture treatment. Both very young and very old people can receive treatment.
Any chronic or acute disease, severe or moderate, mental or physical, can be addressed.
Pregnant women are ideal TCM patients, and there is much that can be done to encourage prenatal and postnatal care for both mother and child.
Can children receive acupuncture therapy?
Yes. Treatment is safe and efficient for people of all ages. Children may go to the acupuncture clinic with an adult chaperone.
What kinds of ailments are treatable?
TCM and acupuncture target the individual rather than diseases with Western names. Three patients who come to the clinic with the same Western-named ailment, let’s say “migraine,” may each receive a different diagnosis and treatment, but they all successfully heal.
TCM provides a complete diagnostic framework to identify and treat any known issue. Still, like any medical system or course of treatment, it works better for some conditions and worse for others. It is best to contact your doctor to learn more about your specific issue.
Can I use acupuncture therapy together with Western medicine?
Western medicine can and frequently does employ acupuncture in addition to it. It doesn’t adversely affect other medical treatments. However, informing your doctor about any other treatments you’re getting would be best.
Can acupuncture therapy address problems with fertility?
Yes. Those having difficulty getting pregnant or building the family they want may find great benefits from acupuncture TCM.
Your doctor talks to you about your options for care and suggests Chinese herbal medicine, either alone or in conjunction with acupuncture.
Is acupuncture therapy able to treat cancer?
According to ancient Chinese sciences – yes. However, many legal and ethical components are involved. We believe oncologists should treat cancer, and acupuncture can be used as a secondary approach. That’s why the answer to “Is acupuncture able to treat cancer” is No. Acupuncture or medicine cannot be used to cure cancer.
Although it cannot treat cancer, acupuncture can be highly beneficial in treating the side effects of Western medical treatments like chemotherapy and reducing pain or other cancer-related issues. You must seek Western medical care for this.
What occurs on my initial visit?
Your initial visit will include a diagnostic consultation and your first treatment, if you have scheduled an acupuncture session.
Your doctor will ask you medically pertinent questions about your illness and check your pulse and tongue. Where necessary, a quick physical examination will be done.
Please wear anything that will make the problem region easy to examine if you seek treatment for a physical injury or illness. Bring a list of all your medications, including vitamins and supplements, to your initial consultation.
Is acupuncture therapy painful?
Acupuncture is painless. Since acupuncture needles are so thin—almost the size of a hair—it can occasionally be challenging to feel them inserted. People frequently describe a sensation that feels more like pressure than pain shortly after the needle is inserted.
Is it safe?
When carried out by a trained professional, acupuncture TCM is completely risk-free and side-effect-free.
Needles used for acupuncture are single-use, pre-sterilized needles. They are easy to use, painless, and may be safely discarded after the procedure.
What if I am afraid of needles?
The needles used are extremely thin and not at all like those used for administering drugs. Most people don’t notice the insertion and those who do say it feels like pressure. It is unnecessary to be terrified of needles.
However, if you are concerned, let your doctor know when you book your appointment or at your initial visit so they may consider it and simplify things.
Can you provide me with advice about my Western medical care?
No, that does not fall under TCM. If you require advice regarding any medications that your GP or consultant has prescribed to you, you should speak with them.
How many sessions does my acupuncture therapy require?
Predicting how many treatments a person will require without proper consultation and diagnostic procedures is difficult. What can be said is that more recent symptoms are typically less difficult to address than persistent, chronic ailments. An average course of acupuncture treatment consists of 12 sessions.
How frequently must I receive treatment?
Treatments are typically scheduled twice a week; however, sometimes, we need to see patients with acute pain or acute diseases, such as Bell’s Palsy, more often. Once the issue has been resolved, many individuals opt to continue receiving treatment every week, biweekly, or once a month to maintain their health.
What is the price of acupuncture therapy?
The price varies for each form of treatment (acupuncture, herbal medicine, or medical qigong), as well as for each clinic; for more information, visit the pages for each clinic. Check out our price list here: https://philaholisticclinic.com/price-list/
What occurs on my initial visit?
Your initial visit will include a diagnostic consultation and your first treatment, if you have scheduled an acupuncture session.
Your doctor will ask you medically pertinent questions about your illness and check your pulse and tongue. Where necessary, a quick physical examination will be done.
Please wear anything that will make the problem region easy to examine if you seek treatment for a physical injury or illness. Bring a list of all your medications, including vitamins and supplements, to your initial consultation.
How many needles will be employed?
Only 10 to 24 needles will often be used. “Less is more” in the context of acupuncture and TCM.
Should I get ready for this appointment?
No special preparation is required. Arriving early will allow you to settle in and gather your thoughts.
You should bring any medications you’re taking, including vitamins, minerals, and other supplements.
When receiving therapy for a physical issue that the doctor will want to check, it can be beneficial to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that is simple to take off.
Do I have to wait before I can exercise after acupuncture therapy?
It’s okay to carry on with your regular activities after. We advise you to wait 30 minutes following your treatment before engaging in strenuous activity or mental strain.
What if I have to postpone or cancel my appointment?
If you need to reschedule or cancel, kindly do so as soon as possible so that someone else can use that period.
Emails might not be viewed during clinic hours, so it is better to call or SMS. Kindly call your practitioner’s mobile if you don’t get a response to your text after waiting a while.
What is the process of acupuncture therapy?
The mechanism of acupuncture is not straightforward. Modern Western medicine differs considerably from traditional Chinese medicine in its methodical knowledge and understanding of human functioning, which cannot be directly translated. There are several hypotheses on the underlying mechanics of acupuncture, but none offer a direct and conclusive solution.
We have first-hand knowledge of acupuncture’s effectiveness. Western science may have to wait for many more developments in the disciplines of contemporary medicine and science before it can fully understand how it operates. TCM theory and recent quantum theory research have some conclusions in common, although grasping this field of study is primarily out of the average person’s reach.
How does the practitioner choose where to place the needles or what to do?
The foundation of TCM acupuncture treatment is carefully diagnosing and analyzing the issue. Your practitioner won’t try to start making things right and administering therapy unless they are confident they have all the information necessary to comprehend what is wrong. Choosing the best points for your illness requires a competent diagnosis and the practitioner’s skill. Each acupuncture point has a unique function or multiple functions that are slightly different.
Do I have to have faith in acupuncture for it to be effective?
Not at all, no. Both infants and those who are unconscious can be treated. Acupuncture is a successful treatment option for animals.
Regardless of their specialty, most medical professionals tend to concur that getting the patient’s mind and psyche involved in the healing process is beneficial but that this is a side effect, not the medication itself.
What distinguishes acupuncture’s philosophy from that of Western medicine?
Western medicine and TCM have extremely distinct perspectives on the human being. It adopts a holistic perspective of the individual, the complaint, and the situation rather than separating the body from the mind or the inner from the outside. TCM frequently diagnoses and treats “odd ailments,” or issues that Western medicine cannot categorize.
Even if I’m not ill, can acupuncture therapy help my health?
To visit your doctor, you often need to be sick. Contrarily, TCM can be used even if you are not sick, simply “not feeling 100%,” or don’t want to wait until you are sick.
TCM has traditionally been used to enhance health, stay well enough to avoid becoming ill, and be able to live an entire life.
In the past, patients in China visited their doctor regularly, believing that it was the doctor’s responsibility to keep them well. They wouldn’t pay for the medical care if they became sick.
How many procedures will I need?
The number of sessions mainly depends on your condition. Since each patient is distinctive, the number of procedures varies. Among the determining factors are the type of condition, whether the medical disorder is long-lasting or acute, and the energy status of the individual. The numbers of sessions differs from patient to patient. However, in general, the number of sessions per course of treatment is 12. It is because the goal of acupuncture is to balance internal qi energy in 12 meridians that allow this energy to flow through the body. An acupuncturist needs 12 sessions to cover all the principal meridians.
What does it feel like?
Patients often describe the needle feeling as a tickling or pulling sensation that moves from one needle to another. This is the only sign that the body’s qi, or two types of vital energy (yin and yang), has been stimulated. Most people find acupuncture to be very relaxing and virtually painless.
What is the duration of one session of acupuncture therapy?
Usually, each session takes 5 to 60 minutes. It depends on the sensitivity of the patient and the methods of treatment. For example, we leave needles in the body for 5 or 30 minutes to stimulate energy. To suspend the active process, needles stay in the body for 20–40–60 minutes. The more, the better rule does not work in this case, and the only well-trained, experienced acupuncturist should determine the session length.
Should I stop taking my regular medicines?
No. You have to continue following your present physician’s guidelines. Remember that in most cases, Acupuncture is complementary healing and supplements your doctor’s treatment. Acupuncture does not replace your current medicines. In some cases, however, your physician and acupuncturist may decide you are improving on acupuncture and don’t need additional pharmaceutical drugs. In this case, you may stop taking your regular medicines, but please discuss it with your primary medical practitioner and acupuncturist.
Does Insurance cover Acupuncture therapy?
The answer is yes! In some states, your insurance provider does in fact cover acupuncture treatment. But please note that in Pennsylvania, it is usually not covered.
What are the Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic’s business hours?
The Philadelphia Acupuncture Clinic’s business hours are:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
What are the payment methods accepted?
Payments can be made through all major credit cards. We also accept payment by cash, checks, and Paypal.