Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture work?
How does acupuncture work?
What is acupuncture used for?
What sort of payment is accepted?
Do you accept insurance?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Are the needles sterilized?
How many treatments will I need?
How long will my appointment last?
How do I prepare for an acupuncture treatment?
Yes! Acupuncture may alleviate symptoms and disease states that you might have been told you’d “just have to live with”. It may also lessen your dependency on pharmaceutical drugs.
^ back to top
How does acupuncture work?
Historically, acupuncture was believed to be influenced by tiny holes along meridians or channels. These entryways provided the practitioner a way to influence, redirect, increase, or decrease the vital substances of the body (qi, blood, yin, yang), thus correcting imbalances. Nowadays, there are many scientific theories that attempt to explain how acupuncture works.
Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the immune system by releasing hormones that help the body respond to injury or stress. It has been noted that acupuncture may also affect blood pressure, the secretion of gastric acid from the stomach, the production of red and while blood cells, circulation, and the rhythm and stroke volume of the heart.
According to another theory, the Gate Control Theory of Pain, acupuncture may block pain signals traveling upward through the spinal cord to the brain. It does this by generating competing stimulus, not allowing the “pain signal” to be experienced.
Lastly, there is the Electrical Theory of Pain. This theory suggests that acupuncture points have certain electrical properties and that the stimulation of these points by needling may alter the electromagnetic field of the body.
^ back to top
What is acupuncture used for?
Because acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the underlying cause rather than the symptoms (“root” vs. “branch”), almost all medical disorders can benefit from it.
The following are some of the more common conditions as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO):
- Upper Respiratory Tract
- Acute sinusitis
- Acute rhinitis
- Common Cold
- Acute tonsillitis
- Respiratory System
- Acute bronchitis
- Bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without complicating diseases)
- Disorders of the Eye
- Acute conjunctivitis
- Central retinitis
- Myopia (in children)
- Cataract (without complications)
- Disorders of the Mouth
- Toothache, post-extraction pain
- Gingivitis
- Acute and chronic pharyngitis
- Gastro-intestinal Disorders
- Spasms of esophagus and cardia
- Hiccough
- Gastroptosis
- Acute and chronic gastritis
- Gastric hyperacidity
- Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
- Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)
- Acute and chronic colitis
- Acute bacillary dysentery
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Neurological and Musculo-skeletal Disorders
- Headache and migraine
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Facial palsy (early stage, i.e., within three to six months)
- Pareses following a stroke
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Meniere’s disease
- Nocturnal enuresis
- Intercostal neuralgia
- “Frozen shoulder”
- “Tennis elbow”
- Sciatica
- Low back pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders
- Sinusitis
- Sore throat
- Hay fever
- Earache
- Nerve deafness
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness
- Poor eyesight
- Circulatory Disorders
- High blood pressure
- Angina pectoris
- Arteriosclerosis
- Anemia
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Spastic colon
- Colitis
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Food allergies
- Ulcers
- Gastritis
- Abdominal bloating
- Hemorrhoids
- Gynecological Genitourinary Disorders
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Irregular, heavy or painful menstruation
- Endometriosis
- Menopause
- Fibroids
- Chronic bladder infection
- Complications in pregnancy
- Morning sickness
- Kidney stones
- Impotence
- Infertility in men and women
- Sexual dysfunction
- Immune Disorders
- Candida
- Chronic fatigue
- HIV and AIDS
- Epstein Barr virus
- Allergies
- Lupus
- MS
- Hepatitis
- Addiction
- Smoking
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Stress
- Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders
- Arthritis
- Neuralgia
- Sciatica
- Back pain
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Stiff neck
- Bell’s palsy
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Headaches and Migraines
- Stroke
- Cerebral palsy
- Polio
- Sprains
- Muscle spasms
- Shingles
- Respiratory Disorders
- Asthma
- Emphysema
- Bronchitis
- Colds and flu
- Miscellaneous
- Chemotherapy/radiation side effects
- Diabetes
- Dermatological disorders
- Weight control
^ back to top
What sort of payment is accepted?
Midwest Acupuncture Group accepts Master Card, Visa, cash, or personal check. Payment is due at time of services.
^ back to top
Do you accept insurance?
Midwest Acupuncture does not accept insurance. It is the responsibility of the patient to check their policy to determine if acupuncture is eligible for reimbursement. If needed, a comprehensive billing summery can be provided.
^ back to top
Does acupuncture hurt?
It is common to wonder if acupuncture hurts, as most people are familiar with only one type of needle- the hypodermic needle- used to give blood. Acupuncture needles are in fact much smaller; about at thin as a human hair. While most feel nothing at all, some people might experience a slight sensation at the insertion point. These sensations are often described as “distending”, “zapping”, “aching”, or “tingling”. Most often, the overwhelming feeling is relaxation. About 80% of patients fall asleep during an acupuncture treatment.
^ back to top
Are the needles sterilized?
A licensed acupuncturist is required to be certified in Clean Needle Technique and use only sterilized, blister-packed needles. Midwest acupuncture Group only uses the highest quality needles, each intended for single use.
^ back to top
How many treatments will I need?
This varies depending on your condition and its duration. A plan will be presented after the initial intake and will be revised based on an individual’s response to treatment. Changes are often seen immediately and optimally by the sixth to eight visit. Many patients come in for “tune-ups” on a monthly basis.
^ back to top
How long will my appointment last?
The first treatment is about 1 ½ hours. Subsequent treatments are about one hour.
^ back to top
How do I prepare for an acupuncture treatment?
It is helpful to come with an accurate timeline of your condition (when did is start, how has it progressed, what helps to alleviate symptoms, etc.). It is also important to know your medical diagnosis if one has been given and to provide a list of all medications and supplements you are currently taking.
Avoid eating a big meal within one hour of your appointment, as well as drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Also, refrain from the use of perfumes, colognes or strongly scented body products as they tend to interfere with proper diagnosis.
