FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE

What Is Acupuncture / What Can Acupuncture Treat / Where Do The Needles Go / How Long Does It Take To Work / How Often Should I Receive Treatment / Are There Any Side Effects / What If I Am On Medication / Do I Have To Be Sick / Does It Hurt / Are The Needles Sterile / How Long Is A Session / How To Get The Most From Your Treatment / How Much Does It Cost / Does Insurance Cover It / How To Choose An Acupuncturist

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is an ancient form of healing which is part of a larger system referred to as Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is a therapy used to balance the organs, tissues and meridians of the body. It promotes healthy circulation, normalized organ and tissue function, healing of the body, and thus alleviation of symptoms. It is one of the oldest forms of treatment in existence, and is part of a system that is used by more people on the planet than any form of medicine.

WHAT CAN ACUPUNCTURE TREAT
Acupuncture is good at treating a wide variety of complaints. The following is a summary of the official report published by the World Health Organization on conditions that are treatable with acupuncture. The full list from the WHO is under What Can It Be Used For, on the About Acupuncture page. I have also included my own list of conditions I have treated successfully (including treatment with herbal medicine) in a separate section.

Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Disorders
Earache
Nosebleeds
Sore throat
Toothache
Upper Respiratory Disorders
Hayfever
Respiratory Disorders
Asthma
Whooping cough
Gastro-intestinal Disorders
Gastric and abdominal pain
Gallstones
Nausea and vomiting
Ulcer pain
Ulcerative colitis
Urogenital Disorders
Chronic prostatitis
Urinary tract infections
Reproductive and Gynecological Disorders
Female infertility
Labor pain
Male sexual dysfunction
Painful menstruation
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Emotional Disorders
Depression
Neurological Disorders
Dizziness
Facial Pain
Headache
Post-herpetic neuralgia
Raynaud’s syndrome
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Musculo-skeletal Disorders
Fibromyalgia
Gout
Knee pain
Low back pain
Neck pain
Ostroarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Tendonitis
TMJ
Metabolic Disorders
Diabetes (type 2)
Weight gain
Circulatory Disorders
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Low blood pressure
Immune Disorders
Sjogren’s syndrome
Addictions
Alcohol, nicotine and drug dependence
Miscellaneous
Acne
Insomnia
Side effects of radiation and chemotherapy

WHERE DO THE NEEDLES GO
There are acupuncture points almost everywhere on the body, but the most commonly used are on the hands and feet, and the forearms and lower legs. If there is pain, needles may go near the site that is affected.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WORK
The number of sessions required for acupuncture to work varies. Length of the illness, severity of the illness, general health, and medical history all impact the course of treatment. Most people begin to feel better overall very quickly. Here are some guidelines, using pain as an example:

• For recent, acute symptoms, immediate changes may occur, with only a few treatments necessary to resolve the problem.
• Symptoms of longer duration may require several treatments to see a change, but most people will see some improvement within this period.
• Four to six weeks is sufficient for most people to see significant, lasting changes.
• Chronic problems may require treatment over the course of several months, or longer.
• Chronic, internal symptoms usually require treatment over a three to six month period, or longer.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I RECEIVE TREATMENT
Treatment is generally once per week, except in cases of severe pain. As symptoms diminish, treatments are administered less frequently. An initial course of treatment is outlined during the first session.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS
Acupuncture is very safe and free of side effects when administered properly. The most common effect people experience is temporary aggravation of symptoms, as part of the healing process. This is generally predictable, and is always discussed before any treatments are administered.

WHAT IF I AM ON MEDICATION
Most people are on medications, and there is no interaction with the acupuncture. Elderly patients on blood thinners may be more prone to bleeding on areas with thin skin such as the face and ears, so these places are simply avoided.

DO I HAVE TO BE SICK
Acupuncture is wonderful preventative care. Receiving regular treatments, or treatments at the change of seasons, is an excellent way to maintain balance and health, and prevent illness.

DOES IT HURT
Acupuncture is painless, and is in fact relaxing to the majority of patients. The needles are fine, solid, stainless steel needles with a rounded heads that push the skin apart rather than cutting it. The sensation felt varies from none at all, to a local tingling, to a dull ache, to a feeling of electricity or water running through the skin. People are aware of the needles, but rarely describe discomfort. An average of 16 needles is used in a treatment, with depths of insertion varying from just under the skin to an inch or more.

ARE THE NEEDLES STERILE
Almost all acupuncturists use disposable, stainless steel acupuncture needles. There is no risk of infection with these.

HOW LONG IS A SESSION
The needles are generally retained for 25 minutes, although this can vary. In my practice I allow up to 30 minutes prior to this for discussion and examination.

HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR TREATMENT
• Arrive at your appointment on-time and well rested to maximize your time and the benefits you receive.
• Wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing such as shorts or sweatpants, and a tee-shirt or tank-top.
• Spend time in-between visits paying attention to any changes you notice.
• Avoid alcohol, stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, heavy meals, and heavy physical activity for at least 3 hours before and after your treatment.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
The first visit costs $100, and can last up to 2 hours if necessary. This allows ample time for history, examination, discussion, and treatment. Subsequent visits cost $70 and last up to 1 hour, including discussion, evaluation and treatment.

DOES INSURANCE COVER IT
Most insurance companies in the New Jersey region do not cover acupuncture. Even for those that do, I no longer accept insurance at my office for two reasons. The first is that the majority of companies that cover acupuncture do not allow acupuncturists into their provider network. This leads to an extraordinary amount of time and resources required to handle these claims, which is my second reason for not accepting insurance. Patients are given a receipt with all of the necessary coding and information in case they are able to submit their claims and get reimbursed. Acupuncture is acceptable for most health savings accounts, and is a tax deductible medical expense.

• Most companies in New Jersey have parity laws – that is, they do not discriminate between certified acupuncturists and medical doctors who also practice acupuncture (either they cover acupuncture or they don’t).
• Many companies advertise acupuncture, but do not really cover it. They outsource a network of discount providers who offer discounts in exchange for referrals. These are generally new practitioners looking to build a practice.
• State worker and teacher plans such as NJ Plus generally cover acupuncture. This is sometimes true of union plans that have the option of writing acupuncture into their benefits.
• PIP (auto accident) insurance covers acupuncture in New Jersey, pending pre-authorization.
• Medicare, Medicaid, AARP, AETNA/US Healthcare do not cover acupuncture.
• Be sure to confirm the details of insurance arrangements prior to starting any treatment. Patients often wind up responsible for large balances when they find out their treatments are not really covered.
• Call your insurance company or call my office and we will call for you, to find out if acupuncture is a covered benefit.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ACUPUNCTURIST
This is probably the most important issue of all. Choosing a practitioner that is right for you can make all the difference in the outcome of your treatment. A personal recommendation is one of the best ways to find a practitioner. I recommending calling and talking to several practitioners. Find one you are comfortable with, who has experience and success treating your particular problem. The Resources section lists places for good referrals. Licensure varies from state to state. In New Jersey, a Certified Acupuncturist must have:

1. A 4-year bachelor’s degree with a heavy emphasis on the biological sciences.
2. Graduated from an accredited acupuncture school.
3. Achieved NCCAOM national board certification.
4. Passed the licensing exam administered by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.

The following information should also be useful in choosing an acupuncturist:

Type of acupuncturist
• There are many styles of acupuncture, but I will divide them into only two categories here. One category is a licensed acupuncturist. This is someone who has gone to school specifically for acupuncture and Chinese medicine. They have completed an extensive training program, practice some traditional style of acupuncture, are nationally board certified in acupuncture, and are licensed by their state board of medicine to practice acupuncture. In New Jersey, look for the letters C.A. to designate this type of practitioner.
• The other category is a medical acupuncturist. This is a MD or DO who has taken an abbreviated training program, practices a more limited style of medical acupuncture, and is generally not nationally or state board certified.

Training
• Most acupuncture training programs that lead to national board and state certification are at least 3000 hours and 3 years long. Refer to the Resources section for a list of accredited schools, and ask the practitioner you are interviewing what school he or she went to.
• Medical acupuncture programs are typically less than 200 hours in length, and do not qualify a practitioner for NCCAOM national board or state certification.

Licensure
• Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) and Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) are the only designations for acupuncturists nationally certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This is the professional certifying body for Chinese medicine in the United States.
• C.A. is the only designation for acupuncturists licensed by the state board of medical examiners in New Jersey.
• MD’s and DO’s are legally allowed to practice in New Jersey without either of these credentials. Their board certification is typically in some other area of medical specialty.

Facility
At the present time, almost all of the treatment settings for acupuncture occur in private offices. Clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, etc. are all places where acupuncture will eventually be integrated into the medical care system offered. For now, there are 3 primary types of office settings you will find:

• A private practice in acupuncture. There may be one or more practitioners, but acupuncture is the primary therapy and treatment is personal and individualized.
• A pain clinic, with a medical director overseeing treatment using acupuncture, chiropractic, and physical therapy. These facilities primarily treat people involved in motor vehicle accidents, and bill through insurance.
• A doctor’s office, where some percentage of the patients are treated with acupuncture.

Additional information regarding certification and licensure can be found in the Certification section of this website.

For more detailed information regarding acupuncture, please refer to the About Acupuncture section of this website.