Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

Many people may be unfamiliar with what exactly takes place in an acupuncture session. Wondering what happens during treatment, how many visits may be needed and whether health insurance covers it are all common concerns. In a typical first visit, a practitioner will take a detailed health history, fully investigate your chief complaint and provide acupuncture for you. This may take up to an hour and a half but is necessary to create an individualized treatment plan that takes into account your present physical, emotional, and nutritional condition, while focusing on your main health concern. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles (the width of two human hairs) into specific anatomical points. Return visits to an acupuncturist may also introduce the option of Chinese herbal therapy. Chinese herbal therapy reinforces acupuncture in a natural way without side-effects. The two are often used together to strengthen the effects of treatment and to achieve longer-lasting results in a shorter amount of time.

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What does acupuncture treat?

Currently, the NIH has determined that acupuncture is effective in treating over 40 different disease categories. Following is a list of illnesses and conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be effective. It is possible to treat these and many other conditions with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Addictions

Allergies

Ankle Swelling

Arm and Shoulder Pain

Arthritis

Attention Deficit Disorder

Back Pain

Bed Wetting

Blood Pressure

Bronchial Conditions

Bursitis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Circulatory Issues

Colds

Colitis

Constipation

Cough

Depression

Detox

Diarrhea

Diverticulitis

Dizziness

Emphysema

Fatigue

Feet

Fibromyalgia

Flu

Gall Bladder Disorders

Gas

Gynecological Concerns

Hay Fever

Headache

Heart Problems

Hemorrhoids

Hip Pain

Immune System Deficiency

Indigestion

Infertility

Injuries

Insomnia

Joint Pain

Kidney Problems

Knee Pain

Leg Pain, Cramps

Liver Problems

Neck Pain, Stiffness

Nervousness

Neuralgia

Pain

Pleurisy

PMS

Pregnancy Symptoms

Prostate Problems

Rheumatism

Sciatica

Shingles

Shoulder Pain

Sinus Trouble

Skin Problems

Sports Injuries

Stomach Problems

Sore Throat

Thyroid Conditions

Ulcers

Urinary Problems

Whiplash

If you are wondering if acupuncture can help you with a different or specific condition, you can call our clinic to speak with one of the acupuncturists directly.

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How does it work?

Currently, there are a number of theories as to how exactly acupuncture works. It was once thought that inserting needles into specific parts of the body affected nerves and could inhibit their signal transmission. This was thought to explain why acupuncture could treat pain so well. But when doctors mapped the acupuncture points over the known nerve network they found that there was some correlation, but not nearly enough to explain most of its effects. Another theory stated that acupuncture stimulates the release of opioids and endorphins in the central nervous system. Although this could explain certain analgesic effects, it could not explain many others. The most current theory speculates that acupuncture points are actually strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals throughout the body. Stimulating points along these pathways influences neurotransmitter rates and resets the polarity of different parts of the body. This latest theory is by far the most comprehensive and most promising explanation for why acupuncture works in Western medical terminology.

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Does it hurt?

Acupuncture in general is not painful. The needles are extremely thin (about the width of 2 human hairs), solid, disposable and flexible. Sensations that patients normally experience are a dull ache or tingling which is associated with the movement of energy stimulated by the insertion of the needles. This is a desired affect and should not feel painful.

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How many visits will I need?

The number of visits you will need depends on several factors. One is how long you have had your current condition. Acute conditions, like a cold or flu will generally only require one or two treatments. Conditions that are more recent, like sudden pain from an injury or seasonal allergies may require 3 or 4 treatments before symptoms are reduced. Chronic conditions like PMS, asthma, back pain or other problems that you have had for many years may take anywhere from 4 to 10 treatments until you notice significant changes. At your first visit, your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history and will determine an appropriate treatment plan based on your signs and symptoms and the findings of that visit.

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The “I Stop Pain” Acupuncture Center is owned by Registered Acupuncturists Tom Tian and Wei Yuan. Since we opened our center in 2007, we have served more than 3000 patients. We have treated different kind of ailments: chronic pain like neck and shoulder pain, headache and migraine, tennis elbow, arthritis, back pain, frozen shoulders, heel pain; emotion problems like depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia; other health issue like menopause, infertility, quite smoking, weight loss, low energy and so on. We very much enjoy meeting and treating clients here in Halifax.