WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE? Acupuncture, from the Latin acus, meaning “needle,” and puncture, meaning “to pierce,” is a part of a holistic system of healing developed and refined in China over a period of more than 3,000 years. Acupuncturists have successfully treated billions of people for a wide variety of symptoms, conditions, injuries, and diseases. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), good health depends on Qi and blood distribution. Many think ‘Qi’ (pronounced CHEE) means ‘energy.’ However, the translation of Qi is “air” or “vital air” and refers to the oxygen distributed to our organs and tissues through our circulatory system. When we have abundant oxygen and blood, we have energy and are healthy. When our oxygen and blood become depleted, we get sick. The primary purpose of Chinese medicine is to help with blood flow. Acupuncture needles restore blood flow in the body, thereby reducing pain, increasing energy, and assisting our body in healing disease. WHAT DOES ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE TREAT? Acupuncture is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be effective in treating a wide variety of medical problems. The following are some of the more common conditions treated by Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine: Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders Arthritis Back pain Bell’s palsy Bursitis Carpal tunnel syndrome Fibromyalgia Frozen shoulder Headaches and migraines Knee pain Neck pain Neuralgia Sciatica Shin splints Sports injuries Sprains Tendonitis Tennis elbow Respiratory Disorders – Ear/Nose/Throat Disorders Allergies Asthma Bronchitis Dizziness Earache Hay Fever Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Sinusitis Sore throat Immune Disorders Chronic fatigue Epstein-Barr virus Lupus Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Gastrointestinal Disorders Abdominal bloating Constipation Diarrhea Gastritis Hemorrhoids Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Ulcers Gynecological and Urogenital Disorders Amenorrhea Chronic bladder & urinary tract infections (UTI) Endometriosis Incontinence Irregular, heavy, and painful menstruation Menopause Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Emotional and Psychological Disorders Anxiety Depression Insomnia Stress Addiction Alcohol Smoking cessation Miscellaneous Chemotherapy/radiation side effects Weight loss/weight control HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK? Acupuncture achieves results by stimulating specific points on the body, called acupuncture points. The stimulation of acupuncture points affects both the sensory and peripheral nerves. It triggers the release of the body’s internal chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins, which have pain-relieving properties. Let’s dive into the details of how acupuncture can help relieve pain. Pain itself is a theory; no one knows precisely what happens when someone feels chronic pain, not even Western medical experts. Our best theory for how acupuncture works with pain involves two types of nerves in the body: These nerves travel from the body to the spine and into the brain, distributing pain information. For example, suppose you have pain in your hand. In that case, these nerves travel up the arms to the spine, where they synapse and pass information on to a like nerve fiber in the spine. From there, the information travels up the back of the spine on the lateral dorsal horn, then up into the brain to communicate the sensation of pain. For your body to manage pain effectively, both the sensory and proprioceptive nerves must be firing at the same time. Without a proprioceptive nerve firing simultaneously with a sensory nerve, the brain does not know where the pain originates. Usually, when the brain gets the signal, it releases enkephalins. Enkephalins are the body’s natural pain killers. As soon as the enkephalin release takes place, the pain stops. That’s the way things are supposed to work. In the case of chronic pain, this process is not working as it should. Experts suspect that the catalyst responsible for releasing the enkephalins is the neural strength of the proprioceptive signal to the brain. In other words, the proprioceptive signal has to be strong enough for the brain to discharge the enkephalins. In people with chronic pain, the proprioceptive pathway has been damaged and is not working correctly. This is why some patients have a hard time pinpointing exactly where their pain is coming from. For instance, a patient may have pain in his shoulder, but he is unable to get more specific about which part of the shoulder hurts. He can’t communicate it because he is not getting a clear proprioceptive signal to his brain. Without a clear signal, there is no enkephalin release, and there is chronic pain. The body can lock into a sensory-motor loop for years. That’s where Chinese medicine can make a profound difference. Acupuncturists are specialists in fixing this signal problem. When the acupuncture needle goes into the body, it jumps the signal strength on the proprioceptive pathway. As soon as you increase the signal strength, the brain releases the enkephalins, stops the pain, and you go home without pain. It’s common that, after you return home from an acupuncture treatment, the body’s lower threshold level will reestablish itself, and thus the pain returns. So, you return to the clinic, get acupuncture again to jump the threshold, and go away without pain. After repeating this treatment cycle multiple times, acupuncture eventually reboots the neurological system and reestablishes homeostasis within your body. The result is an end to your chronic pain. In acupuncture, the location of the needles is everything. The practitioner must puncture very specific spots to be effective at relieving pain. To learn where those spots are, we turn to the Chinese, who have mastered the technique over thousands of years of study and practice. DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT? IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE? ARE THE NEEDLES STERILE? HOW DEEP DO THE NEEDLES GO? ARE THERE RISKS OR SIDE EFFECTS TO ACUPUNCTURE? Below is a list of the common side effects of treatment: DO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN RESULTS? WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DOES AN ACUPUNCTURIST HAVE? The schooling of an acupuncturist is usually a four year program. Training includes all aspects of Western medicine as well as Traditional Oriental Medicine. At the end of the training the practitioner receives a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) Degree. Following completion of school an acupuncturist must pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) examination in order to obtain a license and take continuing education courses to maintain the license. HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED? SHOULD I DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR AN APPOINTMENT? WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN MY TREATMENT? How do we know this? Because when you stop taking Western pharmaceuticals, the symptom often returns. For example, what would happen if you stopped taking your medication for high blood pressure? Not surprisingly, your blood pressure would rise again. If you stopped taking a drug for acid reflux, your reflux would return. That’s because these drugs do not address what is causing your problem; they simply suppress the symptom of that problem. Chinese medicine is designed to get to the root cause of the problem, to help the body heal. You will not need to take Chinese herbs for the rest of your life. Once your body has fixed the problem, the herbs will no longer be needed. Relief Care vs. Stabilization Care We consider your problem (symptom) relieved when you have told us three visits in a row that it is at least 80% better. That tells us the improvement is both significant and consistent. However, we should not stop treatment at this point, as the problem will typically return if you do not make sure the improvement will hold. That’s where stabilization comes into play. Stabilization care is necessary because, while it is essential to relieving your problems, we still have to get at the root cause of that problem. Say you have a leak in your roof. Every time it rains, you have a big puddle of water on your floor. The “symptom” of your leaky roof is the wet floor, but the cause of your problem is the hole in the roof. You could just put a bucket on the floor to catch the water, but you’d still have a leaky roof. To get true, long-lasting relief, you cannot just Band-Aid the symptom; you have to fix the root cause of your problem, the roof itself! Customized treatment plans are the key to fixing the root cause of your problems. Once we establish your treatment goals, we will create a comprehensive treatment plan to help you achieve those goals. Your treatment plan will show in detail the different therapies you will need (i.e., acupuncture, herbs, nutritional therapy, detox, etc.). The treatment plan will also show the number of treatments we think you will need, how often you should visit our clinic, the types of treatments needed, and the exact cost for that care. We feel it is essential that a patient knows exactly what their care will entail. New patients please allow 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time to fill out a few forms before your treatment. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that will allow access to areas below the elbows and knees. HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER ACUPUNCTURE? WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED? DOES INSURANCE COVER ACUPUNCTURE? WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND NowAcu? Now + Acupuncture = NowAcu At NowAcu, your treatment is personally tailored to your needs. Many acupuncturists will use the same treatment protocols on all of their patients. At NowAcu we see you as a unique and dynamic individual and tailor each treatment based on what you need in the present moment.
The NowAcu logo is symbolic of the yin-yang symbol used in Chinese Medicine. In the logo, the word ‘NOW’ symbolizes yang and ‘Acu’ symbolizes yin. The concept of yin-yang is used to describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world. It could be said that the whole of Chinese medicine can be reduced to the fundamental theory of yin and yang – this theory is the foundation of Chinese Medicine.
FAQ
Often, patients feel a mild sensation for a brief second when the needle pierces their skin. Acupuncture is not like going to the doctor’s office for a shot or even to get your finger pricked. Acupuncture needles are ultra-thin and are 25-50 times thinner than hypodermic needles. Some people don’t even feel the needle as it enters the skin. The needles are usually left in place for 10 to 45 minutes. Most people find the experience relaxing, and some even fall asleep during the session.
As long as it is performed by a competent practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe.
Yes. Licensed acupuncturists are required by law to only use sterile, disposable needles. Needles are used once and disposed of properly after removal.
Acupuncture points are located on or close to the skin’s surface, but needles can be inserted from 1/16 of an inch to a few inches deep. The depth of the insertion depends on the nature of the location and condition being addressed, the patients’ size, age, and constitution, as well as the acupuncturist’s style and training.
No. As a case in point, acupuncture works very well for horses, dogs, and cats, most of whom probably don’t believe in acupuncture. It is always beneficial to have confidence in your practitioner, but faith in a particular technique is not necessary to obtain results.
This is unique to each individual. For most conditions, after 5-7 treatments you will know if acupuncture is going to help your condition. Some people notice an immediate improvement in their health, while for others, acupuncture tends to have a cumulative effect over several visits.
For the first appointment bring a list of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Also note any herbs and supplements you take. Wear comfortable clothing that can easily be rolled up past elbows and knees. Please don’t wear heavily scented products. Between appointments, note any changes in your symptoms, energy level, sleep, thoughts, emotions, and well-being.
During your care in our clinic, we will closely monitor your improvement levels and adjust your treatment frequency as needed. When addressing your symptoms, Chinese medicine and Western Medicine have very different approaches. Let’s look at some common symptoms: insomnia, fatigue, back pain, headaches, allergies, acid reflux, low libido, stress, and anxiety. According to Western medicine, these are all different health issues with different causes, for which they typically use different prescription medications to try to treat each one individually. The big problem with these medications is that they do not address the root cause of the problem; they just mask or suppress the symptom. Chinese medicine differs from Western medicine in that it treats the root cause of your health problems and does not simply mask symptoms.
Patients normally feel relaxed and calm. You may feel tired or drowsy for a few hours if the experience is particularly strong. You may also experience a short-term flair up of symptoms in the healing process. After a session, it is a good idea to sit quietly and relax. A gentle walk or very mild exercise can also be helpful. Avoid big meals, vigorous exercise, alcohol, and stressful situations.
We accept cash, check, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express).
Most insurance companies in Florida do not provide acupuncture coverage, if your does we will give you a superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
NowAcu is the combination of the words ‘now’ and ‘acupuncture’.