What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique in which fine, single use, sterile, disposable needles are inserted into specific points on the body for the purpose of alleviating pain, relieving pressure on nerves, improving mobility and re-establishing normal function.
What is Electroacupuncture?
Needles are electrically stimulated at various frequencies to increase the therapeutic benefit. A light “tapping” is felt while the current is on.
Why Acupuncture?
Acupuncture modulates your neurological system, almost every dysfunction has some neurological component, without treating the nervous system we may not get to the root of the problem.
What does Acupuncture feel like?
The insertion of the needle feels like a mosquito bite lasting only a fraction of a second. Once the needle is inserted you may experience an achy, but relaxed feeling.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is generally very safe. Serious side effects are very rare- less than one per 10, 000 treatments
What are the Potential Side Effects?
- Drowsiness and fatigue, you are advised not to drive if you experience these side effects.
- Nausea or weakness
- Minor bleeding or Bruising
- Tenderness throughout treatment or following treatment
- Aggravation of current symptoms for a short period of time
- Fainting
More serious side effects can include but are not limited to:
- Pneumothorax- if there is any difficulty breathing following acupuncture, go to the hospital immediately!
- Cardiac Tamponade
- Infection
- Convulsion
- Stuck needles
Are there any conditions that may make me unsuitable to receive acupuncture?
- Sepsis
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC)
(Blood Clots) - Central Nervous System Infection (Meningitis)
- Pregnancy
- Anticoagulants
- Local Infections
- Epilepsy
- Recovering from stroke
- Open/infected skin
- Pitting edema
- Bleeding disorders/hemophilia
- Pacemaker
- Elevated Risk of Infection
- Nickel Allergy