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Kimberly Bonde, Lic.Ac., RN, the Center Director at the Intown Acupuncture Center, Inc. answers some frequently asked questions.
What are the needles like? Does it bleed where you put the needles? How many needles do you use? How do you decide where to put them? Acupuncture needles are solid, slender, stainless steel filaments. They are slightly thicker than a human hair and are very different from the needles used to give injections. All practitioners at the Center use only the highest quality, pre-sterilized, single-use, disposable needles. The insertion of the needles is intended to stimulate the acupuncture point, not to draw blood or inject any substance. The points are located between muscles, beside bones, near arteries and veins but not directly within a blood vessel. Occasionally there may be a tiny droplet of blood if a capillary is touched. You will not leave the Center covered with Band-Aids! At each treatment session your practitioner will choose a few points to treat. Often this may involve only 4 needle insertions. A deep respect for your body's own ability to heal and care for itself is a cornerstone of Chinese medicine. Using the minimum number of points to accomplish the goals of treatment provides a more effective treatment and feedback process. The acupuncture points are located throughout the body. The points selected for a given treatment may be near an area where you have symptoms or may be located elsewhere. Each point has its own unique therapeutic action. Frequently points located on the forearms, lower legs and torso are used. Does acupuncture hurt? What if I don't like/am afraid of needles? The needles are inserted just beneath the surface of the skin. Sensations vary from person to person and from treatment to treatment. Clients often describe the needling with words such as "warmth", "tingling", "a slight dull, achiness", "a little itchy", "a quick pinch" or sometimes no particular sensation at all. Many people feel quite peaceful and some even fall asleep during their treatments. It is quite common to feel some concern about the needling process in the beginning. Please discuss this candidly with your practitioner. Most clients find their concerns to be well-addressed and allayed following the initial treatment experience. However, for some clients using alternative methods of stimulating the acupuncture points is a more appropriate therapy. We might choose to treat with moxabustion (a warming herbal treatment), various methods of acupressure massage or even using tuning fork sound therapy to deliver effective needle-free treatments. Our Center has been designed to reflect and enhance the overall purpose of acupuncture treatment. Pleasing colors, natural lighting, soft music, and a soothing environment are central to your experience. We will sit together in comfortable chairs for our conversations. When it is time for the treatment itself you will lie down on a massage table draped with soft, clean sheets. Your comfort and privacy are of utmost concern. I will talk with you about the planned treatment and answer any questions you may have; then I will treat the selected points using acupuncture needles, moxabustion (a warming herbal treatment) or various acupressure massage techniques. You will have time to rest quietly before returning to your day. Our sessions are conducted with full confidentiality. Can acupuncture be helpful for children? How do you treat them? Acupuncture is extremely effective with children. I rarely use needles with children younger than age six. With very young children I will generally use various techniques of acupressure massage or moxabustion to stimulate the points. Most of the six, seven and eight year-olds I have worked with have no difficulty with the needles. (In some case I will talk about the needles as "wands" rather than "needles". This goes a long way toward eliminating fear and enabling the treatment to proceed effectively!) Treatment sessions for children are generally shorter in duration, and include more wiggling than when I work with adults. Some of my younger clients enjoy bringing a story cassette to listen to while they relax on the treatment table. I've worked with children in a variety of capacities beyond being an acupuncturist which gives me the patience and ingenuity to craft effective treatments in a variety of circumstances. Acupuncture may be used in cooperation with other care you are receiving. Ideally it will be used with other health-promoting practices. In situations where I believe another therapy may be more beneficial, a referral will be made. Being a Registered Nurse as well as a Licensed Acupuncturist, I have great respect for the benefits of many different systems of medicine. For some conditions conventional medical care should be the first choice, or should be used in conjunction with acupuncture. You may find that your acupuncture treatments enhance other forms of therapy you area using -- allowing medications to be more effective with fewer side effects, or perhaps allowing you to use lower dosages, speed healing after surgery and support you in general toward your recovery process. If you currently take prescription medications it is critical that you continue them exactly as prescribed by your medical doctor. As your acupuncture treatments progress and if you desire to make changes with your medications I will work with you and your physician to determine what changes are safe and appropriate. Your medical doctor is always the professional with the best knowledge and authority to advise you about your medications. I hear acupuncture is good as preventive medicine; please explain this. Coming for acupuncture treatment without a presenting symptom is becoming more common. By developing a healthy, flexible and well-functioning energetic system one can alleviate future health challenges. Having the opportunity to initiate subtle changes in your energetic system before significant imbalances or illness have developed is a much more empowered way to use acupuncture. Used in this fashion treatments are very effective when received on a quarterly basis, in harmony with the change of seasons. How can acupuncture help with weight loss, smoking and other addictions? There is excellent work being done in the field of addiction recovery using acupuncture as part of a comprehensive treatment protocol. Addictions arise and continue as an individual's life energy becomes increasingly imbalanced. Restoring this healthy balance along with learning new behaviors is at the heart of the recovery process. This is true whether a person struggles with cigarettes, cocaine or ice cream. Recovery, like all healing, requires dedication, good support, inspiration and a vision of oneself without the addiction. Acupuncture treatment can support you in your quest to become free of the dependency; acupuncture will not cure your addiction. I will partner with you in this process as one component of a comprehensive program. Is acupuncture treatment covered by insurance? More insurance companies are responding to the public demand for acupuncture treatment. I recommend that you call your insurance carrier to inquire specifically about coverage details. Our Center will not directly bill your insurance company, however we will provide you with receipts that are suitable for you to submit to receive reimbursement for your covered treatments. Acupuncture treatment is included on the IRS list of approved medical expense tax deductions. As a result it qualifies for reimbursement through Health Care Reimbursement Accounts that many companies are now offering in their flexible benefit packages. We will provide you with summary statements that you can use for this purpose. |
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