Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I expect during my first visit?
When you first come to our clinic, you will be asked to complete a health history
questionnaire. Your acupuncturist will also complete a detailed intake, focusing
on your main complaint as well as completing a review of the systems of the
body. The intake will also include an assessment of your tongue and pulse and
may also include a palpation of your abdomen. After gathering this information,
your acupuncturist will formulate an initial diagnosis and treatment strategy. You
will then relax on a comfortable massage table. Treatment will begin with the
strategic insertion of thin, sterile, disposable needles. On your first visit, you can
expect to receive about a 20 minute acupuncture treatment during your hour and
a half long visit.
- Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is completely safe when conducted by a licensed practitioner. In
Oregon, acupuncturists are required to attend a rigorous three to four year
course of study and to pass national board exams prior to practicing. Although
there are typically no side effects to acupuncture, a patient should be forthcoming
in disclosing any medical conditions. Acupuncturists at Mt. Tabor Acupuncture
Clinic promote the highest standards of safety by complying with OSHA
regulations, practicing universal precautions, and using only stainless steel,
sterile, disposable needles.
- Are acupuncture needles safe?
Here at Mt. Tabor Acupuncture, all our practitioners use needles that are pre-sterilized,
pre-packaged, and disposable. Each needle is used only one time and
deposited in a Sharp's container to ensure safe disposal.
- How does acupuncture work?
According to Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture works primarily by promoting
the free movement of energy in the body, stagnation of which causes pain and/or
illness. Western scientific research has shown that acupuncture causes the
production of endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers. However,
acupuncture is used for many conditions besides pain. More recent research
has shown that the stimulation of certain acupuncture points can activate specific
regions of the brain, which then allows regulation of other systems in the body
through modulation of molecules such as neurotransmitters and hormones. In
general, scientific research has shown that acupuncture can modulate all the
primary systems in the body, including the nervous, endocrine and immune
systems.
- Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are much thinner than the needles used to give injections.
The needles are so tiny that when they are inserted, many patients feel only a
mild sensation, or sometimes nothing at all. The amount of sensation depends
on the location of the point and people's individual sensitivity levels. It is
generally a pleasant experience for most people, even those with a dislike of
needles.
- How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required is determined by the patient's complaint, the
underlying health of the patient, and how the patient responds to treatment. For
many complaints, especially acute conditions, several treatments per week for
the first 2 - 4 weeks are usually recommended. This allows the treatments to
have cumulative effects. After this intensive period, treatments are usually given
weekly. Treatment duration can be anywhere from a couple of weeks to six
months or more. Some patients continue treatment on a monthly basis to
prevent illness. This is in keeping with one of the basic philosophies of Chinese
medicine, which is that prevention is better than cure.