Acupuncture FAQ

Q. Does acupuncture hurt? Is it safe?
A. Whilst a syringe used for injections is quite thick and can be painful an acupuncture needle is very fine – just slightly thicker than a human hair. There should be very little or no discomfort with needle insertion. For your safety, we use single use disposable needles exclusively. These needles are disposed of through a medical hazardous waste company, just as hospitals and western medical clinics.

Q. How does acupuncture work?
A. According to Chinese medical theory we all have Qi, pronounced Chi (energy or life-force) flowing throughout our bodies. Chinese medicine says that good health is dependent upon this Qi flowing smoothly. Acupuncture stimulates the flow of the Qi in the body, and thus promotes good health and alleviates pain. From a western medical perspective, we know that acupuncture has an effect on the nervous, vascular, musculo-skeletal, and other systems of the body, but we western medicine still cannot fully explain how it works. We just know it works.

Q. Does acupuncture work?
A. Yes it does. It has been used in China for over 3000 years for the treatment of various diseases and for health maintenance. The World Health Organization officially recognizes acupuncture as suitable treatment for over two hundred common clinical disorders. There have also been a number of studies which document the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of various disorders.

Q. How many treatments will I need?
A. This will depend on your complaint and the severity and duration of your condition. Minor problems may only require a few treatments, but more severe or complicated cases may require more. In general, we recommend a series of six to ten treatments, but you should be able to determine that treatment is working for you after about three treatments. Many conditions can be alleviated very rapidly with acupuncture and herbs. Chronic illnesses may require treatment for several weeks or longer. Acute problems generally respond much faster. As in any form of medical care, the patient's attitude, diet, determination and lifestyle will affect the outcome and course of treatment.

Q. How long will it take to get results?
A. Patients come for Oriental medical treatment for a variety of reasons. Patients often come to acupuncture/Oriental medicine because western medicine has been unable to effectively treat a particular condition. Patients also come because they are trying to avoid surgery or are trying to avoid or reduce their western medications, which often have unwanted side effects. Other patients come because they have a chronic condition; not because they are looking for a cure, but because they are looking for an improvement in their quality of life. Like western medicine, the ideal of Oriental medicine is to eliminate the cause of a given disease, not just the symptoms. However, Oriental medicine may be used to alleviate symptoms, when eliminating the problem is not possible.

Q. Can I exercise/work after a treatment?
A. We recommend that patients relax and take it easy after a treatment. The treatments can move the Qi or energy around and thus the patient needs to relax to let the Qi settle and harmonize. Exercising and working does not give a person's Qi an opportunity to harmonize and settle.

Q. What does acupuncture treat?
A. Chinese medicine, which includes acupuncture and herbal medicine, is a complete medical system which can treat a wide variety of medical problems, as well as, enhance and maintain good health. While Westerners are most familiar with the use of acupuncture for pain control and anaesthesia, acupuncture and Oriental medicine can also be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions.

Conditions Treated

Some of the conditions recommended as suitable for treatment with acupuncture by The World Health Organisation include:

Many people have acupuncture as a preventative treatment or because they feel unwell in themselves but are not ill in the Western sense.