Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to promote self-healing. It is based on traditional Chinese medicine, which views disease as a disruption of energy flow, and modern Western medicine, which sees the needles as stimulating nerves to release hormones and reduce pain. It’s used to address pain, and recent studies suggest it can also help with conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, and nausea.

Acupuncture is effective for easing pain and is recommended for various conditions including respiratory issues (allergies, colds), eye disorders, orthopedic problems (sciatica, arthritis), gastrointestinal issues (constipation, gastritis), and neurological disorders (migraines, facial paralysis).

Normally the needling part does not hurt. If there is a pain that hurts, you just let me know and we address it at that moment.

One benefit to acupuncture is that it is a drug-free way to optimize health. With drugs, people often develop a tolerance, or the need for an increased dosage to achieve the same required effect. However, this does not happen with acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture allows the doctor to immediately examine a person's response to the treatment and adjust it if necessary.

Such a GREAT question that I get asked often. Our body is like a car that needs to be tuned up every once in a while. We may feel fine, but there can be some aches, pain, digestion or emotions that can be preventing our health from being optimal or for us feeling our best! So receiving acupuncture can be seen as getting an oil change, changing the brakes on a car or doing maintenance work so it does not leave us stranded or so our body doesn’t end up in the hospital.

In Chinese medical theory, acupuncture works by balancing the body’s Qi. Qi can be described as a form of bioenergy that runs along meridians. If Qi gets blocked, it shows up as an imbalance or illness. Basically, if you have a health condition, some part of your body’s system is out of whack. Chinese medical theory allows us to diagnose the imbalance… and balance it.

In Western medical theory, acupuncture appears to work by stimulating parts of the brain. It also stimulates the body to release natural biomolecules such as neurotransmitters, vasodilators, and hormones. The exact mechanisms which bring this about are unknown, but the effects are measurable.

No, acupuncture and dry needling are different. Acupuncture is rooted in East Asian traditions and stimulates specific acupuncture points, while dry needling is a Western technique targeting muscle trigger points with thicker needles to relieve spasms.

Training for dry needling can range from 30 to 300 hours, while traditional acupuncture training typically takes about 3,500 hours.

When performed by a licensed practitioner using sterile, disposable needles, acupuncture is generally safe with minimal risks. However, improper practice by non-licensed practitioners can lead to serious complications such as infections or organ damage.

Another great question, everybody’s body is different, we all live different lives and lifestyles, so the practitioner will be able to determine or advise what is best for your body.