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Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treat?
- Chronic and acute pain, numbness or weakness, arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia,
carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, Bell's Palsy, bursitis, tendonitis, trigeminal
neuralgia, sprains, sports injuries, post-stroke recovery
- Chronic fatigue, auto-immune diseases, post-surgical recovery, issues related
to aging
- Menstrual irregularities: PMS, painful periods, menopausal symptoms, infertility,
amenorrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding , morning sickness, vaginitis
- Respiratory problems: chronic or acute cough, wheezing, frequent infections,
allergies, colds, flu, hayfever, sinus problems, post-nasal drip, ear infections,
acute or chronic sore throats
- Digestive problems: irritable bowel, symptoms of Crohn’s disease and
Ulcerative Colitis, chronic indigestion, acid reflux, chronic constipation
or diarrhea , ulcers, problems with blood sugar regulation
- Emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic tension and stress, and
addictions
- Genito-urinary: chronic yeast infections, cystitis, urinary urgency, impotence,
incontinence
- Circulatory: anemia, cold extremities, hypertension, Reynaud's phenomenon
- Pediatric: chronic infections of the ear, sinuses or throat, wheezing, bedwetting,
cough, failure to thrive, migraines, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
trouble sleeping, learning difficulties, allergies
How can acupuncture &
Chinese herbal medicine treat so many conditions?
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
treat individual people rather than isolated symptoms; therefore
any condition that can be understood as an imbalance in the
body’s systems can be treated and altered. Once a pattern
is correctly identified and treated, it is common for many
of the symptoms associated with this pattern to improve—even
ones that didn’t seem related to the initial condition.
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How can I tell if acupuncture
and herbal medicine are right for me?
If:
- Conventional treatment options manage only the symptoms,
with no lasting effect on the condition
- No clear diagnosis has been reached with conventional
medicine
- Conventional treatment options have undesirable side
effects
- Other treatments have had unsatisfactory results
- In addition to the main problem, there are multiple other
health issues, even if they appear unrelated.
Treatment of any health issue with
acupuncture and herbal medicine does not replace a physician’s
care. It is important to utilize both medical systems, as
each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.
How many treatments will
I need?
A better question would be “How
many treatments will be necessary until I know if the treatments
are helping?” The answer to this depends on a number
of factors, including the severity and duration of the problem,
as well as its complexity. An issue that has been troublesome
for many years tends to require more treatments than a recent
problem. Initial improvements for long-standing problems may
be more temporary. As treatments progress further, improvements
become more sustained.
If I am treated with
acupuncture & herbal medicine, will I be able to stop
taking my prescription medicines?
It depends on the conditions for which
you take the medicines. If the medicines are taken as needed
to control symptoms, then as these symptoms decrease with
your acupuncture & herbal treatment, you will need less
and less prescription medication. If you are on a regular
regime of medicine for potentially serious medical problems,
reducing these medicines may be advised in some cases, but
only with the full cooperation and guidance of your medical
doctor.
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Do the needles
hurt?
Almost every first-time acupuncture patient
has some trepidation before the first visit. However, once
the first needle has been inserted, it becomes very clear
that an acupuncture needle has little in common with the nightmarish
needles from our memories of childhood visits to the doctor.
An acupuncture needle is a fraction the thickness of a hypodermic
needle. Common sensations from an acupuncture needle may include
a mild temporary heaviness or soreness, slight tingling, warmth,
moderate pulsations, or no sensation at all. If there is an
initial sensation, it dissipates very quickly.
What about danger of
disease transmission from the needles?
Any acupuncturist licensed in New York
State has been thoroughly trained in and tested on OSHA standards
for disease transmission prevention. At East Mountain Acupuncture, as is the rule throughout our profession, only sterile,
disposable single-use needles are used. Prior to each needle’s
insertion, the skin at each point to be stimulated is cleaned
with alcohol.
What kind
of training do acupuncturists receive?
A minimum of 3 years of full-time graduate
level training, including extensive clinical training and
course work in Oriental medicine and western biomedicine.
To become licensed in New York State, as a L.Ac. (licensed
acupuncturist), passage of a national board certification
exam is required. Medical doctors and dentists are permitted
to practice after taking an abbreviated 300-hour training
in acupuncture, which leads to the title C.Ac. (Certified
acupuncturist).
If a patient
went to 2 different acupuncturists for the same problem and
was treated with completely different points, does this mean
that one of them probably wasn’t competent?
Not at all. In the 2500 year history
of acupuncture, a multitude of schools and approaches has
developed which have some common ground and some divergence
among them. A flexible approach to treatment of any given
problem generally insures the best chance of eventual success.
The same issue may be treated completely differently on two
different visits from the same acupuncturist.
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Does East
Mountain Acupuncture accept any insurance?
Many plans offer either in-network or out-of-network benefits for acupuncture,
sometimes with no deductible and no copay, others either a deductible and some
co-pay. By far the easiest way to determine whether you have coverage is to
click the VERIFY YOUR INSURANCE button at the bottom of our RATES AND
SCHEDULING page, enter all your insurance information on the form and submit
it. Within 48 hours, we will be notified of what coverage you might have and
we will email you with this information. If you wish to utilize insurance
coverage for your acupuncture treatment, you need to do this at least a few
days prior to coming for an appointment to allow for response time.
In the event that you have no insurance coverage, note that if you are already
claiming medical expenses as a deduction on your tax returns, cost of
acupuncture treatments is now considered a legitimate tax-deductible medical expense.
What forms
of payment does East Mountain Acupuncture accept?
Personal checks, cash, Mastercard & Visa. Unless there is full insurance coverage with no copay, payment is expected at each visit.
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