Treatment Questions
Questions about complimentary medical treatments
?
When performed by a licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture has very little negative effects. Side effects are minimal but may include slight bruising, tenderness at needle site, and fatigue. It is best to consult with your acupuncturist on what you can expect from your treatment plan.
Many clinical studies have been done about the effectiveness of acupuncture. Acupuncture may help relieve migraines or tension headaches. Two large studies found that people receiving acupuncture had fewer days with tension headaches than those receiving conventional care. A small study by the Mayo Clinic suggested that acupuncture may reduce fatigue and anxiety.
People have tried acupuncture for neck pain, muscle pain, tennis elbow, and menstrual cramps, hoping to avoid medications and their side effects. The World Health Organization lists 28 different conditions that are sometimes treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture can also be a helpful addition to conventional treatment for osteoarthritis, says the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Unlike needles used for drawing blood, acupuncture needles are hair thin. Most people feel little to no pain when they are inserted and tend to fall asleep during treatment.
Medical massage therapy is performed by a licensed practitioner. Medical massage therapists have advanced training and experience that allows them to provide care focused on healing injuries, improving function, or increasing circulation. Medical massages are a form of massage treatments designed to resolve medical conditions that are diagnosed by a physician. It often focuses on medical needs on top of relaxation and stress relief.
Medical massages done by a licensed practitioner is described as having a “good pain”. It is more intense than regular spa massages, as it is focused on treating health issues. However a good practitioner will never overly apply pressure.
A Medical Massage Therapist can work on a number of chronic or acute medical issues including but not limited to:
Whiplash
Tendonitis
Migraines, cluster/sinus/tension headaches
Joint and muscle disorders
Gua sha is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medical technique meant to relieve several health conditions. Gua sha is good for musculoskeletal problems such as tightness in the shoulders, legs and back. Traditionally, it was used in conjuncture with acupuncture in order to help alleviate swelling, inflammation and even insomnia. More recently, gua sha has directly influenced the development of the Graston technique physical therapists use to relieve muscle tension.
Gua sha is loosely translated to “pushing or scraping”. During the treatment, a practitioner will use a smooth edged tool to gently scrape parts of your body with inflammation or tightness to help circulation and promote healing.
Before the treatment the practitioner will apply lotion to the area and massage it gently to prep for gua sha. The gua sha tools are smooth and have rounded edges. It will not pinch, cut or stab you. It is a gentle technique that can build in intensity depending on any knots the practitioner encounters.
IV therapy is a method to quickly administer fluids, vitamins, and minerals directly into the bloodstream. By going directly into the bloodstream, your body can absorb 100% of the vitamins; taken orally vitamins experience about 20% hydration due to the digestive tract. Our services are meant to act as supplements and not to replace oral hydration.
All of our vitamins are FDA approved and go through high levels of testing. Side effects from an IV drip are generally non-existent or very mild. On occasion, you may experience some discomfort, bruising, itching, inflammation, or redness at or around the site of injection, and this could last from a few minutes to several days. However, true allergic reactions are extremely rare.
The frequency of IV therapy is determined on a patient-by-patient basis. We take a customized approach to suit your individual needs. For preventative health and wellness, we recommend two IV drips per month to help balance out any vitamin deficiencies.
Clinic Questions
Questions about Acutherapy Clinics
We accept a wide range of insurances including Workmans comp, auto accident insurance, veterans community care, UHA, HMAA, Medicare Supplement, AARP and more.
Please check with you insurance carrier to see if you have acupuncture insurance coverage.
Your safety and wellbeing are our top priority at Acutherapy Clinics. Our branches are taking extra precautions to keep you safe! We are limiting the number of office visits and patients at any given time, as well as making sure our front desk area continues to comply with social distancing guidelines.
For out of pocket payments, we can accept either cash or card.
Depending on the treatment, we recommend that you come with comfortable, loose fitting clothing and an open mind! If showing up for an acupuncture treatment, please avoid consuming any alcohol beforehand. Feel free to show up a few minutes early to enjoy complimentary tea.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about acupuncture and CAM
Over 14 million Americans have done acupuncture as a treatment, and the number is growing every year. While you may be familiar with the term acupuncture, you may have questions about it and wonder if it’s the correct option for you.
Congrats on booking your appointment! Before coming in for your treatment, please avoid consuming alcohol beverages. First time patients can save time by filling out the new patient form ahead of time online. Plan to arrive a few minutes earlier to enjoy a complimentary cup of tea.
Unlike needles used for immunization or blood drawing, acupuncture needles are extremely thin, and most people feel no pain or very little pain when it is inserted. They often say they feel energized or relaxed after th treatment.
Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment
The risks of acupuncture are extremely low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted.
Acutherpy accepts a wide range of insurances including:
Workmans Comp
Auto Accident Insurance
Veterans Community Care
UHA
HMAA
Medicare Supplement, AARP
Please check with your insurance carrier to see if you have insurance benefits.
You can find more information on acupuncture at informational websites such as John Hopkins Medicine.