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TOP QUESTIONS WE HEAR FROM PATIENTS
Will it hurt?

For most people, acupuncture hardly hurts! You may on occasion feel a pinchy or sharp feeling, which can be related to your levels of stress, muscle tension (after an intense workout, for example), or to your hormonal cycle (PMS for the ladies!). However, some people are more sensitive than others due to chronic health conditions they are experiencing. Pain, generally speaking, is a signal from your body that something is off-balance - so if you are suffering from many ailments, acupuncture and acupressure may be a bit more painful for you than for the average healthy person. 

 

Is acupuncture safe?

Studies investigating acupuncture show that it is a very low risk procedure, with little to no side effects. Very very rarely, you may have mild bruising, slight bleeding, and, extremely rarely, local swelling. 

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What should I do after a treatment?

Because acupuncture affects the balance and energy meridians of your body, in turn affecting your endocrine system, hormone balance, and energy levels, it's best to rest afterwards and, if possible, to avoid getting other modalities of treatment on the same day (massages, physical therapy, etc.). 

 

In between appointments, practicing Qigong energy exercises, doing self-care acupressure, and taking Chinese herbal therapy will all help you heal more quickly. Doing a little bit of self-care every day and taking herbs daily will go a long way towards extending and amplifying the benefits that you get from acupuncture alone. Just as you might from a personal training session - if you eat right, take supplements, and do some exercises at home in between training sessions, you'll definitely see results more quickly and get your money's worth!

 

How long does it take?

Initial consultations generally take about 20-30 minutes, including medical history and a tongue and pulse reading. The actual treatment with needles will generally take about 25-30 minutes, including the time it takes to insert needles. 

 

Can I benefit from acupuncture?

Whether you're suffering from an acute injury or stroke, recovering from surgery, experiencing a chronic emotional or physical condition, or simply wish to look and feel your best and take advantage of Chinese medicine's preventative aspects, you can benefit from acupuncture and Chinese medicine!

 

How often should I come and how long will it take to see results? 

Individual care plans are decided on a case-by-case basis. Most patients come once every 1-2 weeks. If you decide not to take herbs or don't have time to practice self-care acupressure or Qigong movements, you may need to come more often to see results more quickly.

 

For acute injuries, we recommend that you come as often and as soon as possible. Using common sense: if you have a severe injury or disease, or if you've had a long-term condition, you will most likely require more treatments before you experience results.

 

Some may experience relief of symptoms immediately, for example, but find that they need to come in more often as the effects might "wear off" between appointments! Others, after 1-2 months of regular treatments, may only need to come in once every month for a "tune-up." 

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Are Chinese herbs safe and am I required to take them?

Chinese herbs are safe; all herbal formulas that we use in our practice are FDA batch tested. We only use the highest quality granules distributed by a New York City based company. After meeting FDA standards, these are formulated into easy-to-take tablets. You are not required to take herbs, but we highly recommend to enhance treatment effects and for quicker, more profound results. 

 

What should I wear to my appointment or to my Qigong class?

If you can, please wear or bring loose fitting pants and shirts that can be rolled up to the elbow or knee. For ladies, bringing a tank top would be appropriate. We have disposable gowns/shorts available for your use.

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