Acupuncture FAQs

Acupuncture usually involves the insertion of a thin sterile needles into discrete and specific points on the body in order to cause a therapeutic effect.

Yes! Acupuncture is very safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner. Very few negative effects have been found in clinical cases.

Each session may take 20-45 minutes. The first session usually takes longer than follow-up appointments.

Some results can be seen immediately but others will require several treatments. Generally, a minimum of 3 to 5 treatments 1-2 weeks apart for chronic conditions are needed before one can expect notable improvement.

As in all medicine, this depends on the situation and treatments can be done daily, weekly, monthly, or even further apart depending on the severity and chronicity of the condition.

Rarely! Acupuncture is not painful because acupuncture points are stimulated using very fine needles, almost as thin as a hair. Over 95% of patients are comfortable with acupuncture therapy. Due to the relaxation effect, some animals will fall asleep during acupuncture treatments. In general, sedation is not needed before an acupuncture treatment.

Clinical trials indicate that acupuncture therapy can be effective in the following conditions:

• Musculoskeletal problems: muscle soreness, back pain, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint disease
• Neurological disorders: seizures, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), laryngeal hemiplegia, and facial and radial nerve paralysis
• Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, gastric ulcers, vomiting, and constipation
• Other chronic conditions: skin problems, asthma, cough, uveitis, renal failure, chronic liver diseases, behavioral problems, infertility, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and geriatric weakness
• Quality of life, cancer, and hospice care