Acupuncture
The practice of acupuncture has a roughly 3,000 year history in China. Its theoretical framework is complex, but we can sum it up simply, movement = life. Good health requires the harmonious movement of bodily substances (blood, lymph, waste products, etc), energy (physiologic processes), thoughts and emotions. When this flow is impeded, pain and disease develops. The goal of acupuncture is to identify and remove such obstructions.
A typical acupuncture session involves the insertion of very thin, single-use, sterile needles into specific points on the body. Unlike the hypodermic needles used for injections and blood draws, acupuncture needles are not hollow, but come to a fine point. They, therefore, tend to be much less painful. The needles are usually retained for thirty to forty minutes and may be used in conjunction with other modalities such as gua sha, cupping, and moxibustion when appropriate.
-
Patients experience a wide variety of sensations during acupuncture. while nobody can guarantee that all of those sensations will be painless, any discomfort is usually mild and brief.
-
The number of points selected will vary based on which acupuncture system or approach seems most appropriate for your health concerns. A typical acupuncture session involves 6 to 10 needles.
-
There have been a plethora of high quality randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses over many years demonstrating that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of over 100 medical conditions. It is particularly effective for chronic pain, headaches, stress reduction, allergic rhinitis, and nausea. It is also a popular adjunctive therapy for women undergoing IVF and other fertility treatments.
-
This will depend on the nature of your chief complaint. For example, how long you have been having symptoms and whether there are occupational hazards, activities of daily life, or other lifestyle factors contributing to the condition. A full intake and examination on the first treatment often gives us a general prognosis. Typically, patients experience the greatest improvement in the first five to ten sessions, after which we reassess and decide how to proceed.
“I can’t recommend Four Branches enough- and so happy for the location near my home after seeing Greg for 10 years in the city. Greg’s approach is top notch - he diagnoses at each appointment, using acupuncture as well as other healing methods (cupping, massage, breathing exercises) to bring balance to the body and mind.”
Emily Birsan