• Welcome
• Acupuncture
• Traditional Chinese
    Medicine (TCM)
• About Joel Dunning, L.Ac.
• FAQs
• Practitioner Qualifications
• Classes and Workshops
• Glossary of Terms
• Links and Resources

For additional information or an appointment, please call (402) 650-7715 or Email us.

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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

What to expect

Acupuncture needles range from 1/4 inch to several inches in length and a few thousandths to several thousandths of an inch in diameter. One inch and 1.5 inch are the most commonly used lengths of needle. The others are reserved for more specialized use. The vast majority of needles used in the US are stainless steel but copper, gold and silver are still in use. Gold is thought by some to tonify and silver to disperse Qi.

Q.
Is it painful?

A.
When the needle is inserted the patient may feel nothing or slight pinching sensation. Any pain should subside within a few seconds after insertion. Sensation after needles insertion varies widely. Heaviness around needle, tingling or electric flowing are some common sensations experienced. These sensations represent acupuncture points and channels being activated. Acupuncture is a remarkably safe form of therapy with few side effects. Disposable/ sterilized needles are used. When receiving treatment patients generally feel a slight pinching or heavy sensation around the needle. Practitioner training, practice and skilled technique minimize pain.

With removal of needles, there is no pain and bleeding is very rare.

Q.
How long is a treatment?

A.
Typically after insertion, the needles are left in 20 to 30 minutes. After treatment, the patient may feel extremely relaxed, or often times, light and energized. Other times, patients experience a meditate state of clarity.

The experience while the needles are in depends upon the nature of the imbalance of the flow of energy. Sometimes the patient relaxes profoundly, sometimes he/she feels energized. Many times patients will go to sleep. Other times the patient enters a meditative state. The kinds of experience can vary widely during the course of treatment.

Q.
How many treatments are needed?

A.
Every person and condition is seen as unique in Chinese medicine. The more chronic a condition is generally, the more treatments will be needed. On the other hand, short-term conditions can resolve in as few as one treatment.

Q.
What should one expect after a treatment?

A.
Experiences can vary after a treatment. Some people will feel invigorated, others will feel relaxed. Depending on what condition is being treated one should notice the peak effect of the acupuncture treatment to be 24 to 48 hours after the treatment.

Q.
Is it safe?

A.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.

Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments, or treatment performed by a non-qualified practitioner. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.

There are some nuisances that rarely occur. They include nausea, dizziness, bruising, and fainting - To minimize the danger of falling, be sure you are well supported and/or preferably in a lying position when receiving acupuncture.