Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional Chinese medicine explains that energy called qi, (pronounced “chee”) and blood, circulate through pathways or meridians in the body.
Meridians are different from the circulatory, nervous, or lymph systems. They are the pathways by which the qi and blood circulate through the body between the organs and tissues.
An obstruction in the movement of energy flow through a meridian congests the flow of qi and blood, which can cause pain and other disorders. Needling specific acupuncture points unblocks the congestion and reestablishes the free flow of energy through the meridians.
From a Western scientific perspective, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, to change the experience of pain or to trigger the release of pain-relieving chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.
The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities and promotes physical and emotional well-being.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat the following:
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Migraines/Headaches
- Myofascial pain
- Nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer chemotherapy
- Dental pain after surgery
- Perimenopause
- Menopause
- Menstrual cramps
- Fibromyalgia
There are over 100 conditions that have been positively treated with acupuncture. Learn more at the NIH website.
Many patients worry that the needles will be painful. However, unlike needles used for injections, acupuncture needles are solid, extremely fine, and with a sharp point.
Insertion of these slender needles goes unnoticed by some people. Others may feel a pinch, similar to a mosquito bite, followed by a sensation of tingling, numbness, aching, traveling warmth, or heaviness.
Some say that they feel Qi (energy) spread from the point of insertion. All these are signs that the treatment is working.
Yes! All needles are one time use, sterile needles. They get disposed of in a Sharps container which is then brought to a certified facility to be disposed of safely.
Thin, sterile disposable needles are gently inserted through the skin into acupuncture points.
Insertion of these slender needles goes unnoticed by some people. Others may feel a pinch, similar to a mosquito bite, followed by a sensation of tingling, numbness, aching, traveling warmth, or heaviness.
The Chinese call this sensation De qi (duh-chee), which means “arrival of qi.” De qi usually passes quickly and indicates that the energy is starting to move.
Some acupuncture points are more tender than others, and people have different pain tolerance levels, so some people will feel acupuncture doesn’t hurt at all, while others may feel stronger sensations.
Sometimes the acupuncture points are connected to a gentle electrical stimulator to help relieve pain and muscle spasms. Needles are left in place for 25 to 40 minutes while you get to relax quietly and listen to music.
Total treatment time may take one hour to 90 minutes. You may also experience the combination of acupuncture with cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, e-stim, along with lifestyle, and Chinese herbal therapy recommendations.
Many insurance companies are beginning to cover acupuncture, especially for pain conditions. Please contact your insurance company to find out if you have coverage. Call Sang to find out if your policy covers acupuncture. Typically, she will be able to get a reply from your insurance company within 1-2 business days. Please call our office if you have any questions and we will be happy to answer your questions.
If you have a recent claim from your automobile insurance because you suffered an injury from a motor vehicle accident, your car insurance covers acupuncture! Call Montage Acupuncture and OM to return to feeling well.
Every person responds differently to care. Frequency will depend on your condition and overall health.
In general, for most acute conditions (usually sudden onset of pain, that you’ve experienced for a short amount of time) you will likely need 6-8 treatments, once – twice weekly.
For complex, chronic conditions, the time it will take to recover varies drastically. Depending on the severity of your pain, we may recommend that you be seen twice a week for 6 -8 weeks, then expand the appointment to once a week, to bimonthly, until you have graduated and are on the path to wellness. Meaning treatments may only have to occur once a month or only during seasonal changes to keep up your wellness regime.
Keep in mind that the body needs time to heal. Chronic conditions did not arrive overnight and healing will also take some time.
As your symptoms improve and your body heals, you will require fewer visits. Once we achieve maximum improvement, many people elect to continue treatment once a month to keep their bodies ‘tuned-up’ or come when the seasons change. It is recommended to come once a year to keep your patient file active and up to date with your practitioner.
Glass or plastic cups are suctioned against the skin to move Qi and blood, bringing toxins held within the muscles up to the surface to be cleared.
Some patients have described the sensation as a deep tissue massage.
Cupping is great for chronic knots, tightness and tension that is unable to be released by other means. Afterwards, there may be discoloration referred to as “sha”.
There may be some soreness where the cups were, indicating the clearing of stagnation. This soreness clears quickly, and the patient is left feeling more relaxed, loose, less tense and at ease. The sha generally goes away within a couple of days.
Gua Sha is an ancient type of bodywork that involves a light scraping of the skin with an object, such as an Asian soup spoon, piece of jade, or other stone.
This breaks up the stagnation in the superficial layer of the fascial and will free the flow of Qi and blood along the areas where it is done. It can leave marks similar to cupping and sometimes can look quite extreme.
It breaks up myo-fascial adhesions and in doing so, is great for treating pain and increasing range of motion.
In recent years, chiropractors and other osteopathic doctors have rebranded it as “Graston Technique.” It’s quite effective and patients tend to love it!
Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called “moxa” are burned on or very near the surface of the skin.
The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences. Moxa is usually made from the dried leafy material of Chinese mugwort (Artemesia argyi or A.vlugaris), but it can be made of other substances as well.
Chinese medicine recognizes six pathogenic influences that cause disharmony in the body and trigger disease or disorders. These influences are cold, heat, dampness, dryness, summer heat, and wind.
Moxibustion is used for “cold” or stagnant conditions. The burning moxa expels the cold and warms the body’s meridians (energy channels), promoting the flow of blood and qi (vital energy).
Common ailments treated with moxibustion include pain from injury or arthritis, digestive problems and irregular elimination, asthma, and protection against cold and flu strains.
It is especially effective for gynecological and obstetrical conditions. Moxibustion has been used successfully for centuries to treat menstrual problems and to turn breech babies.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine is utilized to restore balance and optimize health. Herbal medicine works much like acupuncture, in that it helps address the core issues and bring your body into a natural balance.
Herbal Consultations consist of completing a detailed in-person intake with a practitioner. Initial appointments may also involve Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine diagnostic techniques such as tongue diagnosis and pulse diagnosis to properly prescribe herbs or supplements based on individual health imbalances and patterns. Chinese herbal medicine consultations can be in person or over the phone.
Dry Needlingis a specific acupuncture technique that uses needles in a way that primarily targets trigger points to release, easing muscle tension and pain.
Acupuncturists commonly use dry needling techniques, along with traditional acupuncture, to provide a well-rounded and comprehensive treatment.
We perform dry needling in conjunction with acupuncture therapy to help our patients fully heal from their pain and underlying issues.
It’s also known as trigger point release, and it is extremely effective in clearing muscle tension, whether from stress or injury. The sensations associated with this type of needling are unique and more pronounced.
A trigger point is associated with a tight band within a muscle and it is stimulated to cause the muscle to relax. In the process, the muscle will “twitch” as it’s releasing. This is a very unusual sensation that innervates the muscle group to come “back online”. The muscle may have a characteristic “soreness” for about 24 hours after trigger point release. Sang Montage L.Ac. has studied the Exstore method with Dr. Anthony Lombardi.
