DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT? WHY DO PEOPLE GET ACUPUNCTURE? WHAT KIND OF ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES DO YOU USE? WHAT WILL THE INITIAL VISIT BE LIKE? HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET ACUPUNCTURE? WHAT DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN TREATING? DOES MY INSURANCE REIMBURSE FOR ACUPUNCTURE? WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE? Addictions: drug, alcohol, smoking Is your question not answered here? Further information
can be found on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website.
At Urban Refuge we use the tiniest needles to ensure your experience is practically pain free. Our needles are almost hair thin! Even very sensitive patients or patients who are afraid of needles are surprised by how pleasant acupuncture is at Urban Refuge. The sensation felt where a needle is placed varies from a dull pressure sensation, warmth, tingling, dull pain or soreness, to a spreading or electric sensation.
Acupuncture is a great solution to your health needs. For 2500 years traditional Chinese medicine has been used to combat disease and illness. It addresses both the symptoms and causes of disease, relaxes the body and mind, and promotes a sense of wellbeing. It's a natural form of health care, cost effective, better for the environment, and has few side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine offers preventative health care and is perfect for health maintenance.
We use high quality surgical grade stainless steel needles. Needles are sterile of course and are disposed of after a single use. We use some of the thinnest needles available so acupuncture is virtually painless.
During the initial consult your acupuncturist will ask questions regarding your illness and ask about how your body is functioning as a whole. Part of the assessment involves feeling the pulse and looking at the tongue, which give us a picture of the imbalances in the body.
Following the consult we will discuss your diagnosis and the treatment plan. Throughout the consult and acupuncture session feel free to ask questions.
At Urban Refuge we begin our acupuncture sessions with gentle meridian (energy pathway) massage and qigong (exercises that help direct the movement of energy in the body) to relax the body and mind, facilitate deep breathing, and encourage the flow of energy. This takes about 5-10 minutes.
For the acupuncture session you will be walked through what to expect and what you might feel.
Anywhere from 10 to 20 needles may be used depending on the condition we are treating. We encourage you to relax or take a nap while the needles are retained for about 30 minutes.
After the acupuncture session you may be prescribed herbs, and given lifestyle and dietary recommendations.
The initial visit takes 1 to 2 hours depending on the complexity of the health history. Follow-up sessions take 1 to 1.5 hours. After acupuncture treatments most patients feel very relaxed. Some people experience tiredness right after acupuncture, other people may feel energized. Listen to your body and do what feels best.
Only a few sessions may be needed for acute disorders like the common cold, or muscle tightness. For chronic problems like poor energy, chronic pain, or psychological disorders we usually recommend a series of 10 or more treatments. The healing response depends on the condition of the body. If the body is deficient of energy and nutrients or if the energy pathways are very blocked, it takes longer to heal.
The frequency of treatment is once or twice a week. The goal is to get the body back in harmony. Getting to that point takes time and sometimes patience. Maintenance treatments at least once a month are always nice.
Our specialties include pain disorders, headaches, migraines, stress management, insomnia, anxiety, depression, allergic disorders, strengthening the immune system, side effects from cancer treatment, cancer prevention, and gynecological disorders.
Many insurance plans do reimburse for acupuncture. Contact your insurance company to find out about benefits and acupuncture eligibility. Don't forget to bring your insurance card and ID to your initial visit.
Acupuncture
and Chinese Herbal Medicine are acknowledged by the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in treating many
different medical illnesses and disorders. Below
are just a few conditions treated with TCM:
Allergies
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Blood Pressure: High or Low
Bronchitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue
Colitis
Common Cold/Flu Nausea
Constipation
Cough Pain
Dental pain
Depression
Diarrhea
Digestive problems
Dizziness/Vertigo
Dysentery
Edema/Swelling
Emotional problems
Eye problems
Facial tics/Bell's Palsy
Fatigue
Fertility
Fibromyalgia
Gynecological problems
Headache
Hiccough
Injury: auto, sports, work, etc.
Incontinence/Bed-wetting
Indigestion
Infertility
Impotence Weight
Management
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Immune System Deficiency
Liver problems
Low back pain
Menopause
Menstrual irregularities
Migraine
Morning sickness
Osteoarthritis
PMS/Dysmenorrhea
Pneumonia
Prostate Problems
Rhinitis
Sciatica
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Shoulder pain
Sinusitis
Sleep disturbances
Smoking cessation
Sore Throat
Stress
Tennis Elbow
Thyroid conditions
Tonsillitis
Tooth pain
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Urinary Tract Infections
Vomiting