Frequently Asked Questions
Does it hurt?
Acupuncture isn't entirely painless but it's not like getting a shot. The needles are tiny, inserted to a very shallow depth (typically around a quarter of an inch), nothing is injected, Most often the needles are removed in a second. Often there are strong sensations which are not pain: aching, tingling, pressure, movement, something hard to describe. These are signs that you are responding to the treatment. Don't pay attention to the photos and videos you may see of people with 50-100 needles inserted. I use very few needles, often just 2-4 on each side of the body.
Are there side effects?
Oh yes! Side effects like getting relaxed, sleeping better, feeling more at ease, old traumas letting go and more.
Once in a while there are aggravations of symptoms or a strong emotional response that could be anger, sadness, fear. These are signs the treatment is reaching a deep level. Extremely rarely, a patient will feel faint; this again is a sign of a major shift in internal energy which will quickly pass.
There can be, rarely, a bruise when the needles penetrates a small blood vessel. A few acupuncture points lie very close to a nerve and cause a nerve sensation if needled a little bit off center. Theoretically, there is a remote chance a needle will hit an organ and cause damage. I have been doing this for 40 years and never had this happen
Are the needles reused?
Never! One insertion and then into a specialized disposal container. Years ago we had reusable needles and sterilized them. Now all needles are disposable.
Do you treat where it hurts?
Sometimes. Acupuncture meridians course throughout the body. Points on the feet can treat back pain or even headaches, for instance. However, sometimes the body needs a stimulus near the problem and local treatment is then appropriate.
Do you treat...(fill in the blank)
I treat people, not a disease or illness. I don't do medical diagnosis, I diagnose your qi energy system and treat that. Then your system heals the problem, if it can. Some situations are beyond the reach of nature to heal. But the state of energy is more important than the medical diagnosis. For instance, I don't treat cancer. I treat people with cancer. Will that heal the disease? I don't know, but I do know I can help them feel better whether the disease progresses or goes into remission, whether they need chemotherapy or not. Does that leave you unsure? Call me and let's talk about it. I don't take on a patient unless I think there is a reasonable chance I can help them.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
Not unless your insurance requires it. Acupuncturists are licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and have to complete thorough training. We work independently of doctors.
What is the pulse reading about?
In acupuncture, pulse reading is vital but not the way a doctor or nurse does it. I am feeling the pulse rate but more importantly I am feeling whether your pulse feels weak or strong in 12 different places. Each place refers to a particular acupuncture meridian. In a perfectly healthy person, all 12 places feel about the same. In reality, there are differences from place to place in both the strength and the quality of the pulses. The quantity and quality tell me which meridians need attention.
Acupuncture isn't entirely painless but it's not like getting a shot. The needles are tiny, inserted to a very shallow depth (typically around a quarter of an inch), nothing is injected, Most often the needles are removed in a second. Often there are strong sensations which are not pain: aching, tingling, pressure, movement, something hard to describe. These are signs that you are responding to the treatment. Don't pay attention to the photos and videos you may see of people with 50-100 needles inserted. I use very few needles, often just 2-4 on each side of the body.
Are there side effects?
Oh yes! Side effects like getting relaxed, sleeping better, feeling more at ease, old traumas letting go and more.
Once in a while there are aggravations of symptoms or a strong emotional response that could be anger, sadness, fear. These are signs the treatment is reaching a deep level. Extremely rarely, a patient will feel faint; this again is a sign of a major shift in internal energy which will quickly pass.
There can be, rarely, a bruise when the needles penetrates a small blood vessel. A few acupuncture points lie very close to a nerve and cause a nerve sensation if needled a little bit off center. Theoretically, there is a remote chance a needle will hit an organ and cause damage. I have been doing this for 40 years and never had this happen
Are the needles reused?
Never! One insertion and then into a specialized disposal container. Years ago we had reusable needles and sterilized them. Now all needles are disposable.
Do you treat where it hurts?
Sometimes. Acupuncture meridians course throughout the body. Points on the feet can treat back pain or even headaches, for instance. However, sometimes the body needs a stimulus near the problem and local treatment is then appropriate.
Do you treat...(fill in the blank)
I treat people, not a disease or illness. I don't do medical diagnosis, I diagnose your qi energy system and treat that. Then your system heals the problem, if it can. Some situations are beyond the reach of nature to heal. But the state of energy is more important than the medical diagnosis. For instance, I don't treat cancer. I treat people with cancer. Will that heal the disease? I don't know, but I do know I can help them feel better whether the disease progresses or goes into remission, whether they need chemotherapy or not. Does that leave you unsure? Call me and let's talk about it. I don't take on a patient unless I think there is a reasonable chance I can help them.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
Not unless your insurance requires it. Acupuncturists are licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and have to complete thorough training. We work independently of doctors.
What is the pulse reading about?
In acupuncture, pulse reading is vital but not the way a doctor or nurse does it. I am feeling the pulse rate but more importantly I am feeling whether your pulse feels weak or strong in 12 different places. Each place refers to a particular acupuncture meridian. In a perfectly healthy person, all 12 places feel about the same. In reality, there are differences from place to place in both the strength and the quality of the pulses. The quantity and quality tell me which meridians need attention.