Acupuncture Services of Central NY

Acupuncture has been an important component of Oriental Medicine for thousands of years. Acupuncture is based on an energetic model of the human body, and believes that energy, called qi (pronounced "chee"), flows thru the body on a complex inter-connected network of energy pathways called meridians. When the qi becomes blocked, it becomes stagnant causing pain. Disease may result when an organ is not getting enough energy to function properly. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting extremely fine needles into the body at specific points that have been mapped on these energetic pathways. Experience has shown that each point has a specific action in the body to ease pain or to improve the functioning of the vital organs in the body, by facilitating the smooth flow of energy.

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The World Health Organization has recognized over 40 common health problems that acupuncture can effectively treat. Most people are aware that acupuncture treats pain, but many do not know the wide range of painful conditions that are commonly improved with acupuncture. Acupuncture treats pain anywhere in the body, including but not limited to: back pain, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, trigeminal neuralgia, arthritis, fibromyalgia, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, shingles pain and migraines.

But acupuncture can also treat digestive disorders such as nausea, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. It is commonly used to treat asthma and sinus problems. Acupuncture is very powerful to treat gynecological problems including PMS, menopausal symptoms, endometriosis and even infertility.

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Acupuncture is extremely safe when performed by a professional who has completed all licensing requirements. In most states, this means completing a four-year educational program that includes hundreds of hours of supervised hands-on clinical training. Most states also require practitioners to pass a written national board exam.

Most acupuncturists in the United States are rigorously trained in clean needle technique and use pre-sterilized, disposable needles to avoid the risk of infection or contagion.

And, because there are no drugs entering the body, there are no side effects associated with acupuncture!

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Western medicine cannot yet completely explain how acupuncture works. But more and more research is being conducted that confirms the effectiveness of the action of the points. In some studies, magnetic imaging has shown changes in the brain when certain points are stimulated. We do know that acupuncture improves circulation, reduces inflammation and can boost the immune system. Acupuncture has a powerful effect on both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and hence can regulate the whole body.

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Acupuncture needles are very thin and flexible and most people find the insertion almost painless. Once the needles are in place in the body, there may be a sensation around the needle – usually one of heaviness, achiness, warmth or tingling. Most people find that the body goes into a very relaxed and balanced state. It is very common for people to fall sound asleep during the treatment.

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I usually tell my patients to plan on being at my office for an hour and a half for the first visit. This allows enough time to do the customary paperwork, get a complete medical history from a Chinese medicine point of view and to do the acupuncture treatment itself.

Chinese medicine examines every aspect of the functioning of the body to arrive at a diagnosis. A good practitioner will inquire about body temperature, diet, thirst, appetite, elimination, energy level, lifestyle, sleep habits, and pain in the body. Details of the menstrual cycle of female patients are extremely important and revealing of imbalances in the body. Chinese medicine has always recognized that extreme emotional events can eventually cause pain or disease. Much information is derived from an examination of the tongue. And the practitioner will take the pulse on both wrists, looking not only for a heart rate, but also for a strength and overall quality of the pulse that is very indicative of the imbalances in the body. The treatment then aims at treating both the symptom and the underlying cause of the imbalance.

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There are many styles of acupuncture, several “micro-systems” of acupuncture, and many theories on how to pick the location of points to use to treat a given problem. And they all work! There are thousands of acupuncture points on the body. Some are mapped on the meridians and some are single “experience” points that have been documented to have a specific effect for a specific problem. Auricular acupuncture maps the whole body on the ear. Korean style acupuncture maps the whole body on the hand. There are several styles of scalp acupuncture. And there are many methods of manipulating the needles to achieve the desired effect on the energy in the body.

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There is nothing about acupuncture that would interfere with other treatment modalities. In fact, acupuncture is often incorporated into a comprehensive treatment program and can enhance the effectiveness of physical therapy and chiropractic care. The end result is a speedier recovery from injuries.

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There is very little that the patient needs to do. I advise people to wear comfortable clothing that gives access to the knees and elbows. It is also best to avoid getting a treatment immediately after a big meal, or when extremely fatigued, upset or hungry.

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Medicaid and Medicare do not yet cover acupuncture. But many supplemental insurance plans are starting to cover acupuncture treatments. Many health benefit packages are also starting to cover acupuncture.

I advise my patients to contact their insurance carriers to see if they have coverage.

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