Acupuncture is a safe, effective, precise treatment for pain of all kinds, headaches, digestive issues, auto-immune deficiencies, cancer support, premenstrual and menopause discomforts, reproductive issues, hormonal imbalance and other conditions blocking optimal health, energy levels and well-being.

Conditions Treatable Through Acupuncture (provided by the WHO-World Health Organization)

Due to its holistic approach, acupuncture treats the whole person and not just the condition itself - in this view the two are inseparable.

In order to allow for a frame of reference for the Western mind, we will use the Western names for the wide range of illnesses and conditions that acupuncture can successfully treat. Keep in mind that in the view of the trained Chinese practitioner, many of the concerns listed have a much wider scope, and may in fact be considered only symptoms of the true physical condition:

Bone, Muscle or Joint Problems including arthritis, backache, inflamed injured or strained muscles, sciatica

Cardiovascular Disorders including arthritis, backache, inflamed injured or strained muscles, sciatica

Childhood Illnesses including catarrhal conditions, colds, coughs, earache, skin problems, teething problems

Disorders of the Head area including facial paralysis, headaches, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, vertigo

Earsincluding deafness, ortitis media, tinnitus Eyesincluding conjunctivitis, glaucoma Mouthincluding gum and tooth problems, ulcers Nose including chronic catarrh, nosebleeds, sinusitis Throat including sore throat, tonsillitis

Endocrine problems including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism

Gastrointestinal disorders including consitpation, diarrhoea, gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcers, vomitting

Gynecological and obstetric problemsincluding menstrual issues such as amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, infertility, as an aid to labor, morning sickness, thrush

Infectious diseases including dysentery, hepatitis, influenza, measles, mumps, whooping cough

Liver and gall bladder disorders including gall bladder inflammation (cholecystitis), gallstones (cholelithiasis), liver enlargement

Mental and emotional disorders including addictions, depression, hysteria, insomnia, phobias

Respiratory disorders including asthma, bronchitis (acute and chronic), cough (chronic)

Sexual problems including frigidity, impotence, spermatorrhoea, sterility

Skin disorders including eczema, psoriasis

Urinary disorders including cystitis, incontinency, kidney stones, retained urination

It varies. The longer you’ve had the problem, the longer it takes to go away. If your constitution is strong, you will heal more quickly.

An experienced acupuncturist considers the sensitivity of the affected area, the patient’s current condition and overall constitution, always careful not to push the patient past healing capability for each treatment.

Depending upon the treatment needed, and the person’s constitution, the number of needles will vary, as will the amount of time they are left in place. The time could range from 5 to 45 minutes, with an average time of 20 minutes. Patients are relaxing in a comfortable position, possibly lying on a massage table, during the treatment. Often, the first time patient will be pleasantly surprised at the comfort level, saying "This is better than I thought it would be."

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, or you may be provided with a gown to wear. Have a light snack about 30 minutes before the treatment. Exercise is not recommended for at least 2 hours after the treatment.

The only one is the possibility of some light-headedness if the patient has not eaten enough prior to the treatment.

The needles used for acupuncture treatments are sterile, single use needles that are disposed of after that single use.

Patients often consider acupuncture to be a greater value to them than taking medications and other treatments because acupuncture addresses the whole patient, not just a symptom(s). And acupuncture is so effective and safe without the numerous side effects that accompany most medications. Some health insurance carriers will reimburse you for your acupuncture treatments, and our office will provide you with the forms and documentation needed to file your claim.

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

You can locate a doctor of chiropractic (DC) by browsing the ACA Find a Doctor page, searching the Yellow Pages, speaking with friends, or contacting your local chamber of commerce. Because stringent educational and professional requirements are required for state licensure, the public is assured of academic competence and clinical experience.

No, a patient does not need referral by an MD before visiting a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are so defined in federal and state regulations. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health care provider.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects.

The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.

Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the connection. The occurrence appears to be very rare—1 in 5.85 million manipulations—based on the clinical reports and scientific studies to date. If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper–neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti–inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in 1983.

The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health care plans. For example, the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management offers chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both the Mail Handlers and BCBS benefit plans. In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in Federal Workers’ Compensation, and chiropractic care is available to members of the armed forces at more than 40 military bases, and is available at nearly 30 veterans’ medical facilities.

Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.

In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.