What does acupuncture feel like?

Acupuncture needles are very fine, about the size of thick hair. Some discomfort may occur as it is necessary to send a signal to the brain to pay attention to your chronic pain area. After insertion, you may feel a sensation of warmth, heaviness, tingling, or a dull feeling. 

Does acupuncture hurt?

Needles are about the thickness of human hair. Mild to moderate discomfort can occur, but it should not be painful like a blood withdrawal. If you have high concerns about the needle pain, please tell our acupuncture provider so that we can adjust the quantity and intensity of the needles. 

How does acupuncture work?

Qi (vital energy) flows in the body along specific energy pathways which are each associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. We stimulate acupuncture points to regulate the balance of internal organs and energy pathways.

What do I do after the acupuncture treatment?

Please rest and drink water to process the toxins and pain chemicals. Pay attention to your posture and diet that caused your condition. Listen and respect your body signal with mindful living. Even though your pain gets better after the treatment, it is important to limit activities that cause the pain for a while until your body is fully healed. 

What are the benefits of acupuncture?

1. Improve Qi and blood flow; reduce inflammation

2. Promote endorphin release to relieve pain; Improve range of motion 

3. Harmonize yin and yang, thus enhancing the immune system & restoring the function of self-healing. 

4. Improve metabolism and balance the endocrine system 

5. Activate the parasympathetic nervous system to relax and rejuvenate

What do I expect from the initial treatment? Any side effects that I need to be aware of?

A: Most patients relieve pain from the first treatment. You may sleep better from the relaxation. Some patients can have more pain for 1~2 day after the treatment. When we stimulate the pain area with acupuncture or other modalities, more blood can flow pain area to heal. When they remove toxins and metabolic wastes, they can irritate the blood or lymphatic vessels. When you pass the healing crisis period, your pain will reduce. It’s a natural process. If you have any concerns, please speak with your provider. 

Q: My condition has gotten better. Can I reduce medication? Can I do more activities?

A: A Patient may have improvement quickly. It means you have better circulation but does not mean your condition healed. Please do not increase the daily activities that you could not do before, reduce the OTC medication, or pain medication that is prescribed by the doctor. You want to remain everything the same to evaluate whether the acupuncture treatment is working for you or not. Even though pain reduces quickly, you still need to keep a planned treatment plan to stabilize the condition. We will reduce your treatment frequency accordingly. 

Q: I have a busy life. Why is important to keep the treatment? 

A: You invest your time and money. We want to make sure your investment is worth it. There is a reason why you have the condition. When you study, if you don’t study for a while, you may forget what you learned before. Acupuncture treatment provides education to your nervous system, therefore, keeping your visit recommendation is important to educate the body properly. In addition, it may take some time to adopt a healthier lifestyle into your daily activities.