Frequently Asked Questions
No matter how long the list is, it will never include all the conditions that Acupuncture treats. Acupuncture re-balances the body as a whole and the innate wisdom of your body heals itself. Here are some examples:
- Acute and chronic pain
- Headaches: tension and migraines
- Sports injuries and car accidents
- Anxiety, depression and panic attacks
- Immune system weakness and chronic fatigue
- PMS, menstrual cramps, menopausal symptoms
- Infertility
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Stress related disorder, PTSD
- Insomnia and heart palpitations and
- Low energy levels.
How can I evaluate whether this or other therapies are safe for me?
A way to determine whether or not a treatment is beneficial and safe is to observe the basic body functions. These are appetite, breathing, urination, elimination, energy level, sleep, circulation, and digestion. All of these are observable by the patient. Observation of negative effects in these body functions should alert the patient to the possible danger of a treatment or medication. There are times when such disruption is necessary and tolerable. However, long-termed disturbance of these functions is usually detrimental.
How does an Acupuncture treatment feel?
Each person’s experience is different. Clients report that they feel gentle sensations of warmth or tingling; relaxation or invigoration, or an emotional release, to name a few. After treatment, patients often say that they felt a subtle shift, more relaxed, or more clarity or alignment. This sensing is a witnessing to the process that Acupuncture initiates.
The needles in Acupuncture are very small, sterile and single use. The diameter of the needles is about the same as a strand of hair. Many of the needles will not be felt at all. At the most, there may be a small pinch for just an instant. This is often followed by a warm, tingling or relaxing sensation. I have treated many people who have been “afraid of the needles.” People are amazed at how easy the session goes. It is very important to me that each person is comfortable and able to get the most out of a treatment session. So let me reassure you that the needles do not hurt.
What happens during a treatment?
Undeniably, there is more to us than meets the eye. We can easily see our physical, mental, and emotional complexity. And what is it that we can’t see? It’s the subtle structures and connections, which are energetic in nature. These subtle networks are strained or disturbed during the trials and triumphs of everyday life. Acupuncture assists us to reconstitute and re-create these subtle energies. In turn, there is a reverberation throughout our being which manifests itself in a tangible way.
Can Acupuncture be used with other therapies?
Yes, it will increase the effectiveness of other therapies by “smoothing” our energy. In other words, it helps us to be in a more receptive state when we receive other therapies. Have you ever wondered why side effects occur in some patients and not others? It is the condition of one’s energy. Acupuncture can assist our bodies to reduce side effects from Western medications and treatments.
Can Acupuncture be used with psychotherapy?
Acupuncture works very effectively with psychotherapy. It facilitates the introspective process, creates a smooth flow of energy and supports the healing process. By using Acupuncture with psychotherapy, transitions are easier and deeper transformation is within our reach.
How is Acupuncture different from Western treatments?
Though Western therapies can be very effective; the focus of therapy tends to be on the specific complaint or symptom. Because Acupuncture is working on an energetic level, it can help us to resolve illness at the point of cause and the complaint(s) will resolve themselves.
Here’s an example:
Sometimes our physical ailments are fueled from within. Our thought patterns, habits, pent up anger, grief or sadness create situations, which affect our bodies. We often seek out therapies that will address our symptoms, becoming more deeply ensnarled in the disease process. Conversely, Acupuncture works at the level of the cause. No matter how old or how hidden the cause, our energy patterns do not hide.
For example, one patient was very worried about finances. She had severe stomach cramps and indigestion; she tended to catch a lot of colds and flus; she had severe and frequent lower back pain. THE CAUSE: This concern about finances began as a child’s fear of not having enough to survive. This old fear came into play throughout this women’s life creating progressively more severe conditions, which affected her digestive system and her lymph system. Of course, Western therapies would not connect these incidents as having one cause. Nor would Western therapies view these conditions as symptoms. All of these symptoms create a non-harmonious energy pattern somewhere in this person’s body. A therapy such as Acupuncture, will re-align a person’s energy pattern allowing them to re-adjust themselves. This readjustment will alleviate the energetic disharmony and the symptoms.
Are these services natural and wholistic?
Yes, acupuncture is natural. Natural techniques are in harmony with the body. An indicator that a technique is natural is that it does not have side effects. Like food, air, and water, the body takes the acupuncture treatment in and integrates it into its functioning. Wholistic techniques acknowledge that every function and part of our being is connected and has an impact on the rest of ourselves. This is one of the core principles of Acupuncture.
Can Acupuncture help me to maintain my health?
Yes. People are aging much more gracefully these days. Technology has changed the way we structure our lives. We can have several careers, travel extensively, and bring our dreams to fruition. These opportunities can be snatched away by poor health. Throughout our lives, we must employ various techniques to protect our health—our essence, so that we are able to enjoy peek performance throughout our lives.
Make an appointment today. Call (202) 525-4585.