FAQ - AcuHealth LLC Acupuncture - Serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a gentle yet powerful medicine which has been proven effective for over 2,500 years. With an outstanding safety record, acupuncture stands as a primary health care modality for one-third of the world's population. Underlying and energizing our anatomy and physiology is Qi (pronounced "chee"), or life force energy, basic to every living being. In health, Qi flows freely through energy pathways called meridians. When Qi becomes blocked, disharmony follows which will ultimately manifest as patterns of disease in our physical, mental and emotional bodies. The goal of acupuncture is to restore balance and harmony in the flow of Qi, enabling healing from within.

Who Can Benefit from Acupuncture?

Everyone can benefit from acupuncture. Most people seek help for a specific symptom or condition that has often been unresponsive to traditional medical care. Acupuncture is often helpful where other forms of treatment have not been as effective. There are, however, no promises of cure. Each individual is unique, and response to treatment can be quite varied. Acupuncture can be quite compatible with Western medicine and other healing modalities to reduce pain and speed recovery.

What Problems Can Be Treated With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is widely known to relieve pain, but its range is much broader than pain relief alone. Acupuncture can be helpful in alleviating both chronic and acute conditions, and one need not have a specific diagnosis to benefit from acupuncture. Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as effective in treating many conditions, such as:

Acupuncture is also appropriate for chronic fatigue, environmental sensitivity, fibromyalgia and other autoimmune disorders, as well as facial rejuvenation. Because acupuncture treatments affect the whole person, improvements in health may be experienced in several body systems at once.

Do I Have To Be Ill To Benefit From Acupuncture?
Absolutely not. Many patients come for regular treatments to achieve increased well-being, vitality and enjoyment of life. Acupuncture can also be a powerful preventative measure to keep patients well-balanced and healthy throughout the year.

What is Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture?

Facial Rejuvenation acupuncture is a non-surgical method of reducing the signs of aging. It specifically affects the face while simultaneously treating the underlying factors that contribute to the aging process, helping you to look and feel vibrantly younger. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture may erase as many as five to fifteen years from the face, with results apparent after just a few treatments. It allows your inner radiance to shine out to the world. For more information about Facial Rejuvenation, click here.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?
While sensations may vary from person to person, one may experience a dull ache, tingling, heat or itch, which dissipates in a few moments. Any discomfort is usually mild and not objectionable.

What Is The Usual Response to Treatment?
Since every person is unique, response to treatment is quite individual. Some notice an immediate improvement, others notice changes in overall health and well being with improvements in the primary problem following. The nature and severity of the person's imbalance, how long they have had it, as well as lifestyle factors that may support or impede treatment, are all issues that affect the number and frequency of treatment. Once balance is achieved, one may choose to have seasonal treatments to help maintain optimal health and well being.

Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is an all natural, drug-free therapy, generally yielding no side effects except feelings of relaxation and well-being. There is little danger of infection from acupuncture needles because they are sterile, used once, and then discarded. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. Millions of people are treated with acupuncture each year, and very few incidents of injury from acupuncture have been reported to the FDA.

What About The Needles?
The needles used are very fine gauge, solid needles about the size of a hair, as opposed to hypodermic needles which must be larger and have a cutting edge to deliver medication. They are sterile, individually packaged, one-use-only needles.

Will my insurance cover acupuncture?

Insurance coverage varies depending on your insurer and your specific insurance policy. Contact your insurance provider to learn what kind of care is covered. Here are a few questions to ask:

1.        Will my plan cover acupuncture?
2.        How many visits per calendar year?
3.        Do I need a referral?
4.        Do I have a co-pay?
5.        Do I have a deductible? If yes, has it been met?

What Happens During An Acupuncture Treatment?
The healing process begins with the first visit, which is dedicated to an in-depth interview and physical exam taking 1½ - 2 hours. Using skills of traditional diagnosis, the quantity and quality of the Qi's energy flow through the meridians of the body is assessed. Treatment strategies are then custom tailored for each person, with subsequent visits usually 40 minutes to 1 hour in length.

Suggestions for Before and After Treatment:
To get the most from an acupuncture treatment, it is suggested that you try and eat lightly and avoid vigorous exercise and stressful situations before and after treatment. Common immediate responses to treatment include feeling relaxed, tired or a bit spacey. These are signs of energy shifting in your body, and it is best to allow it to happen. If possible, wear loose, comfortable clothing, and no scented products to the treatment.

I Want To Come For Treatment, What Do I Do Next?

Contact us at the telephone number displayed on the top of our website. We will discuss your concerns and schedule an initial visit. During your first visit we will explore a treatment schedule that will best meet your needs.