Acupuncture
You may be reading this report because you are thinking about trying acupuncture and don’t quite know where to start. For most people, acupuncture may feel risky because they don’t know much about it, and finding a practitioner might feel a little like gambling. Our goal in this report is to answer some of your questions about acupuncture and provide some guidelines to help you choose the right practitioner for you.
what is Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of a system of healing that originated in China thousands of years ago, and is still used in many parts of the world today.
One of the cornerstones of Chinese medicine is the practice of acupuncture, which is the insertion of fine needles into points on the body to stimulate self-healing.
The energy moving throughout your body pools or rises to the surface at various points, called acupoints. An acupuncturist can access this energy by inserting needles into various acupoints to either unblock or help build up depleted energy. In addition, while the pathways rise to the surface of your body, they also run deep to the internal organs. As a result, an acupuncturist can access your internal organs through the acupoints on your body’s surface.
It’s important to be clear that your acupuncturist isn’t using needles like “medicine”. Rather, by inserting needles into appropriate points, your acupuncturist is stimulating your body to heal itself. Think of your acupuncturist as a facilitator, but remember, you’re doing the work of healing.
Here are the basic steps for finding the right practitioner.
Step 1: Get recommendations. Acupuncture's popularity has grown tremendously over the past few years, so chances are you already know someone who has tried it. Seek out recommendations, especially from someone who has seen an acupuncturist for reasons similar to your own.
Step 2: Search online. If you can't get a personal opinion or haven't found the right match, the internet is also a great resource, especially if you are looking for an acupuncturist with a particular specialty.
Choosing the best acupuncturist
Choosing an acupuncturist can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never had acupuncture before. It’s important to ask some questions before you book an appointment for an acupuncture treatment to make sure you’re getting the right practitioner for your particular needs. The following are some important points to consider and ask a practitioner before you book your first appointment, to help you choose the right one.
- Education counts—know your practitioner’s education and licensure
This is an important first question to ask anyone before they perform acupuncture on you! All too frequently consumers are led to believe that any practitioner who is trained or certified to practice acupuncture is highly qualified in the art of diagnosis and treatment using the principles of Chinese Medicine. Don’t hesitate to ask a prospective practitioner about their credentials and training.
- Can they help you? Find out your practitioner’s area of specialty and experience with your condition.
Some acupuncturists treat any and all conditions. However, many specialize in treating certain conditions, such as muscle and joint pain, stress and anxiety, infertility, or women’s conditions. It is important to ask whether a prospective practitioner has had some experience in treating your condition. It is also important to ask what kind of results a practitioner has had with your particular condition.
- It’s all about style—ask about the kind of acupuncture being practiced.
Most people don’t know that there are many different kinds of acupuncture, such as Traditional Chinese acupuncture, Ear acupuncture, Japanese style, Korean Hand acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture, and scalp acupuncture. Some of these different kinds of acupuncture are more effective for specific conditions.Be sure to ask what conditions are best helped by your practitioner’s kind of acupuncture.
- How many and how often? Find out about the number and frequency of treatments.
In fact, everyone heals at a different pace. Your condition may be resolved in one or two treatments, or it may take many more, especially if it is a long-term chronic condition.
Acupuncturists may vary in their frequency of treatments. Some prefer to treat you weekly, and others may prefer to see you more than once a week. In general, acute conditions may require more frequent treatments, and chronic, long-standing conditions may be treated less frequently.
- Check out what treatments other than acupuncture are offered.
Beyond acupuncture, there are a number of other kinds of treatments that come under the umbrella of Chinese medicine, and it’s important to ask what, if any, other kinds of treatments a practitioner offers.
Other treatments that may be offered include herbal and food-therapy , bodywork, heat therapy, and…
- Money is important—don’t be afraid to ask about cost.
The price of an acupuncture treatment will vary based on the experience of a practitioner, their style of acupuncture, and the city in which you are located. Be sure to ask a practitioner what they charge, both for initial treatments and for follow-up visits.
Other Points to Consider
After you have asked these questions, you will have an idea of which provider to choose. You should expect the acupuncturist’s office staff to treat you with courtesy. When you call, are they prompt and professional? Do they answer your questions? Do they book you for future appointments? Be sure to pay attention to how the office staff members treat you. Will you be comfortable working with them?
Your Checklist
An acupuncturist should:
- Be licensed or certified to practice in your state
- Treat you with respect
- Be professional
- Listen to your health concerns
- Answer your questions in a way that you can understand
- Make every effort to help you improve your health
- Refer you to specialists as needed
As you can see, there are many areas to think about when choosing an acupuncturist. You deserve the best care possible. So do some research and talk to different acupuncturists. Most of all, take the time you need to make a choice you feel good about.