+ What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese Medicine practice backed by evidence-based results. It uses small filiform needles that are gently inserted into points along the body’s meridian systems.

+ What's a licensed acupuncturist?

A licensed acupuncturist is an individual who has completed an accredited Masters program in Traditional Chinese Medicine. While licenses are obtained by state, a licensed acupuncturist will have completed a nationally regulated set of board exams, along with approximately 4000 total education hours, and 1000 hours of observed clinical hours. Without meeting these obligations, you cannot receive a license to practice acupuncture. A practitioner who has met these requirements will have the abbreviation (L.Ac.), standing for licensed acupuncturist, after their name.

In some states, providers may be able to call themselves acupuncturists without obtaining these rigorous credentials, but rather taking a 100-300 hour course in Chinese Medicine and needling. It is important when seeking out a Chinese Medicine practitioner that they hold the proper credentials to fully assess the nuances of your pattern expression, in order to receive safe, effective treatment.

+ How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture signals the nervous system, endocrine system, internal organs, as well as meridian pathways to send a specific message about where the body should focus its natural healing resources. The points being used will vary from patient to patient and treatment to treatment based on your individual symptom expression and current pulse qualities.

+ What does acupuncture feel like?

Anna practices a very gentle needling style, causing minimal to no pain response. While some patients experience more sensitivity than others, negative sensations such as prickling, tingling, stinging, or itching generally dissipate within a matter of seconds. Open communication regarding sensations is encouraged during your treatment to ensure your comfort during the session.

+ When will I start to see results?

This is very patient dependent. Some see results as soon as one session, and others do not notice much change until treatment 6 or more. It is important to remember that acupuncture retrains the established patterns in your body. If you have had a chronic issue, it did not express itself overnight, and it will similarly go away gradually. It can be easy to miss subtle changes, and your practitioner will guide you through things to be mindful of and notice throughout your treatment plan. Some acute issues may see resolve in 1-6 treatments, while more chronic cases may need 6-24 treatments before significant improvement and change occur.

+ How often will I have to come in?

This is very patient dependent. For acute cases, once a week in the beginning may be adequate. For chronic cases, your acupuncturist may recommend treatment 2-3 times weekly for a short period of time, followed by sessions further apart as the patterns begin to change, and lifestyle changes to keep the patterns from returning are implemented. Progress is often greatly accelerated by patient compliance with practitioner recommendations outside of our time in the treatment room, resulting in fewer treatments needed to obtain results.

+ What is Pulse Diagnosis?

Pulse diagnosis is a traditional diagnostic method in Chinese Medicine. Anna received training in Japanese pulse diagnostic methods outside of her graduate learning program, giving her great insight as to what the body is internalizing. Pulses are read using the radial arteries, just above the wrist crease. Pulses can have many qualities that your practitioner is looking for, that go beyond pulse rate and blood pressure. The pulse will change as the treatment is performed, and will be checked regularly to determine the course of the treatment. This is what makes each treatment at our office extremely individualized, and generally different between each treatment you will receive through the course of your treatment plan.

+ What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling or “trigger point” needling is a term coined in the Western Medicine world that refers to the process of using acupuncture needles in specific areas of the body where groups or bundlings of fascia and nerves lie. This needling style can cause the muscle to jump and fasciculate, reducing tension and improving blood flow. While all acupuncturists are well versed in “dry needling,” not all practitioners who do dry needling are versed in acupuncture.

Rest assured that if you are seeking relief from pain and sore/tense muscles, the practitioners at Modern Meridian are well versed in dry needling as well as the depths of acupuncture, and can discuss the best treatment plan for your specific issue of focus.