Q & A \ Acupuncture

(Maryland's First Acupuncture Clinic)
Acupuncture Clinic of Maryland
11125 Rockville Pike G-4, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Tel: 301-881-7866
(Medical Building next to White Flint Mall)

Location click

E-mail:info@chanyu.com
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Acupuncture Questions and Answers
By Dr. Y. C. Chan

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Does acupuncture hurt?

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Is acupuncture safe?

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How many treatments are necessary?

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Does insurance cover acupuncture?

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Who is a qualified acupuncturist?

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Effective acupuncture treatments

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Patients testimonial

Does acupuncture hurt?

Many people imagine acupuncture to be like a series of hypodermic injections, but there is really no similarity. Acupuncture is performed with flexible, stainless steel needles nearly as fine as a strand of hair. When they are inserted rapidly and deftly by an experienced practitioner they cause little or no sensation, and the patient usually feels nothing more than a momentary prick. Once the needles have been inserted, they cause no discomfort. Acupuncture produces no unpleasant aftereffects, and the patient may leave the clinic immediately after the treatment and resume a normal schedule.

Is acupuncture safe?

Performed by a highly trained and experienced practitioner, acupuncture is one of the safest medical treatments available today. It carries none of the risks of surgery, and unlike drugs it causes no toxic reactions. At a time when the dangerous long-term effects of many common drugs are becoming widely known, more and more physicians are recommending acupuncture as a treatment that does not introduce chemicals into the body. Acupuncture itself causes no allergic reaction, and it is especially valuable for people who cannot tolerate the medication prescribes for them.
some concern has been expressed about the possibility of transmitting disease by all purpose needles. However, we have been using disposable needles since 1983, and the qualified acupuncturist carefully follows aseptic procedures. Another concern is that acupuncture may mask the symptoms of a severe, undiagnosed illness, thus delaying the patient from obtain necessary therapy. In order to be certain that acupuncture is an appropriate treatment, an acupuncturist should always insist that the patient obtain a Western Medical diagnosis if possible.

How many treatments are necessary?

Acupuncture is not a "miracle cure" and media reports of instant response to acupuncture are seriously misleading. Although sudden and dramatic improvement occur in many cases, miracles are the exception and not the rule. For reasons that are not well-understood, therapeutic acupuncture (as opposed to the from of acupuncture used as analgesia during surgery) takes effect over a period of time. Some patients may obtain a degree of relief almost immediately, but most patients, especially those with chronic disorders, must take six to ten treatments in order to notice significant improvement two or three treatments may be given in quick succession at the beginning of a series, with the frequwncy of treatments given at intervals of some months or even years, depending on the individual case, may delay or even prevent return of discomfort.

Does insurance cover acupuncture?

There is very little uniformity among insurance companies with regard to coverage of acupuncture. Recently, many companies which formerly excluded acupuncture have begun to reimburse patients for all of part of the cost of treatment. Since acupuncture is increasingly being recognized as an effective. Relatively inexpensive therapy which often offers an alternative to costly now quite large and may be expected to grow. The Internal Revenue Services allows taxpayers to deduct to cost of acupuncture treatment as a medical expense.

Who is a qualified acupuncturist?

Regulation of acupuncture varies widely throughout the United states. In general, an acupuncturist must complete an extensive formal training program in acupuncture or Oriental medicine or must serve a lengthy, state-approved apprenticeship. He or she must be able to show evidence of his or her training, preferably official certification from a state or foreign governments. At this time, NCCA (National commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists), plus state license should be minimum qualifications.
After long study a practice, the master acupuncturist is able to select without hesitation from many hundreds of acupuncture points. He or she knows how to precisely locate a then combine the points without resorting to mechanical formulas in order to treat many of the hundreds of disorders responsive to acupuncture. Like Western medicine, acupuncture is art as well as science, and the practitioner is guided by intuition and experience as much as by formal rules. This qualified practitioner, whether he or she has practiced for many years or a few, above all must have a strong feeling responsibility toward his or her patients and a profound sensitivity to their treatments.
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Effective Acupuncture Treatments

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patients Testimonial