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F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the needles like?

Acupuncture needles are solid, not hollow like needles used by doctors. They are small and hair-thin and can literally be bent with your pinky.

Only sterile, disposable needles are used so there is no risk of infection. We use a needle once, then dispose of it.

Does it hurt?

I take great care to make my patients very comfortable so that they can relax while the needles are in place. The more you can relax during an acupuncture treatment, the better the results. Many people even fall asleep during treatment.

Following treatment it is common to feel a tremendous sense of relaxation and calm.

How quickly can I get recovery?

In general, you should start to feel the benefits from acupuncture in 2-3 treatments. If the problem is acute, sometimes improvement is felt after 1 treatment, and may only need 3-5 treatments to resolve. If the problem is chronic and long term, it may take many treatments to help restore balance to the body.

How often should get treatments?

Typically I treat patients once to twice a week in the beginning, especially if the condition is acute and painful. The benefits of acupuncture treatments tend to hold longer as you receive treatments, so what typically happens is that my patients start to need less, so after a while they come periodically for maintenance treatments. Its similar to car maintenance. You don’t put gas and oil in your car once and expect it to keep running well. It takes continual care of your body to stay healthy.

  • Symptomatic

Initially we are treating your chief complaint and the symptoms of the disease.

  • Treatment

After the 1st treatment, you feel better for days, and then the disease returns. After the second treatment, you feel better longer and lots of other symptoms are much better. By the third treatment, the body understands the new healing energy.

  • Maintenance

Maintenance varies, but usually once or twice a month are usual protocols.

Does insurance cover acupuncture?

Currently, Alabama doesn’t accept acupuncture for insurance, but some states and government agencies will accept it.. You should check with your insurance plan.