Why do you want to feel my pulses?
The pulse is a very important tool in determining an overall Chinese medical diagnosis, which helps to effectively choose appropriate acu-points and a potential herbal medicine prescription. There are 12 pulse positions on each wrist that your acupuncturist will palpate.  Each position corresponds to a specific meridian and organ.  The quality of your pulse can actually change quite frequently throughout the day, depending
on your constitution.  And often times you pulse will change from the beginning of an acupuncture treatment to the end.

Why do you want to look at my tongue?
Believe it or not, the tongue helps to provide a glimpse into the function of your internal organs as they relate to your individual Chinese medical diagnosis.  Your acupuncturist will look at the color, shape, cracks and coating on your tongue.  The characteristics that we look for on your tongue can actually change throughout the day depending on your overall health, body temperature, the food you eat as well as your current sleep patterns.  It’s very important that when we ask to see your tongue that we’re seeing it in its most natural and organic state.  Please don’t brush your tongue before your visit to the acupuncturist!  Brushing your tongue may actually erase important diagnostic criteria that we look for when making a diagnosis.  Just like feeling your pulses, reading your tongue is also a very important tool in determining an overall Chinese medical diagnosis.

How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments will vary from person to person.  Most people experience immediate results and relief; while others may take weeks or even months to achieve results.  Chronic conditions usually take longer to resolve than acute ones.  Plan on a minimum of one month (4-8 treatments) to see significant and long-lasting changes for chronic conditions.  Treatment frequency depends on a variety of factors:  your constitution, the severity and duration of the condition your seeking treatment for, and the quality and quantity of your Qi.  An acupuncturist may suggest one or two treatments per week, monthly visits for health maintenance or seasonal ‘tune-ups’ to help maintain your personal equilibrium.

Does acupuncture hurt?
Ah, the most common question asked of any acupuncturist! This is natural:  for most new patients, your only prior experience with needles has been with hypodermic ones (needles used to either draw blood or inject medications) – please bear in mind, Acupuncture needles are a fraction of the size of a hypodermic needle.  In fact, most acupuncture needles are not much larger in diameter than a human hair.
Does it hurt? Simply put, the sensation caused by an acupuncture needle varies.  Some people feel a very slight pain as the needles are inserted, but most people feel no pain at all.  After the needles are inserted, the desired sensation is often described as ‘dull and achy’.  Similar sensations are ones of warmth, tingling, heaviness, distention or an electric sensation either around the needle insertion site or along the pathway nearby.  Occasionally, and with orthopedic acupuncture techniques, needle insertion may illicit what we refer to as a ‘muscle fasciculation’ or ‘twitch-response.’  This fasciculation, though sometimes surprising, is a desired response and is an indicator of a spasmed muscle that has been ‘reset’ and has started the process of relaxation. If you do experience any discomfort, it is generally mild and can usually be eliminated through simple needle manipulation by the acupuncturist.

How deep do the needles go?
The depth of the insertion varies.  Depth depends mostly on what part of the body the needles are being inserted into.  For example, your acupuncturist will use a needling technique that is different in fleshier areas such as the buttocks versus less dense areas such as the hands or forearms.  Typically and on average, needles are inserted at depths ranging from 1/8’ to 1 ½’.

How safe is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is extremely safe.  All Acupuncturists are required to adhere to National and State Medical safety standards and undergo extensive training in order to uphold their licenses.  It is an all-natural, drug-free therapy, yielding no side effects except feelings of relation and well-being.  There is very little danger of infection from acupuncture needles as they are stainless steel, sterile, used once, and then discarded. 

Is acupuncture safe for children?

Absolutely!  In some instances, because of their resilient nature, children actually respond more quickly than adults!  If your child has an aversion to needles, your acupuncturist may massage the acupuncture points – a practice known as ‘acupressure’.  Exposing your child to holistic healthcare at a young age may also promote an interest in their own personal health management as they grow older.

Why did my acupuncturist recommend herbs?
Chinese Herbs are probably the most powerful adjunct to an acupuncture treatment.  In fact, in many Traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals in China, an Herbal prescription is the primary method of care while Acupuncture is considered a secondary treatment.
Herbal formulas are used to strengthen, build and support the body or to clear it of excess problems such as a cold, fever or acute pain.  Herbal formulas are a potent method for enhancing the effects of your acupuncture treatment and are a means for you to continue your own health maintenance between visits to your Acupuncturist.
Please see our section on Chinese Herbology on our Chinese Medicine page for more detailed info on Chinese Herbs and how we use them in our practice.

What is Cupping?
Cupping is a common adjunct therapy designed to stimulate the flow of blood and Qi within the superficial muscle layers.  It is used for sore muscles, tension, neck and back pain, and the common cold.  Similar to massage in its therapeutic nature, cupping helps to break up and release the accumulation of toxins, scar tissue and stagnant blood. Drawing these substances out of the muscles and to a more superficial layer
enables them to be easily and quickly absorbed by the lymph system and then excreted from the body.   In this therapy, your acupuncturist will place small glass ‘cups’ over specific areas on your body.  A vacuum is created under the cup using heat or suction. They may be moved over an affected area or left in place.  Cupping therapy often leaves large red or purple marks on the skin where the procedure was performed.  There is no need for alarm!  These marks are not painful and the slight discoloration usually dissipates in 3 to 5 days.

What is Gwa Sha?
Gwa Sha is another therapeutic technique used to release muscle tension, tightness and constriction.  A specialized tool is used to gently scrape or rub the skin over a localized problem area.  Like cupping, this too may leave some slight redness or discoloration that quickly dissipates over time.

What is Tui Na?
Tui Na (pronounced:  too´e nah´) is defined as a Chinese system of therapeutic massage, acu-point stimulation and manipulation using forceful maneuvers, including pushing, rolling, kneading, rubbing, and grasping.  This therapy is sometimes used in conjunction with your acupuncture treatment. 
Tui Na is a system with a wide range of therapeutic techniques and indications. The techniques used range from those that are light and soothing to those that are exceptionally strong and invigorating. Refined over the centuries, Tui Na facilitates healing by regulating the circulation of blood and Qi, which controls body function and enhances resistance to disease. The term “Tui Na” combines the names of two of the hand techniques, tui meaning to push and na meaning to lift and squeeze, which are used to represent the system. Practitioners of Tui Na claim there are more than 365 hand techniques, although they can be generally placed in the category of pressing, rubbing, waving, shaking, percussion, or manipulating.  **Please note – Tui Na is first and foremost a therapeutic form of bodywork.  Therefore, its methods are not always ‘soothing’ in nature – however they are always beneficial in the treatment of disease and in support of the healing process from injury.**

What is Moxibustion (‘Moxa’)?

oxibustion (or ‘moxa’) is a treatment that uses an herb called Artemesia Mugwort.  It may be burned on the shaft of a needle, above the skin, on salt, or sometimes directly on an acu-point directly.  This technique is used to ‘warm’ acupuncture points or specific areas of the body in order to quicken the healing process and to invigorate the energetics of a particular acupuncture point.  Moxa has a very distinctive smell and can

sometimes be mistaken for other substances.  Please inform your acupuncturist if you have sensitivity to the smell of Moxa or if you are sensitive to the small amounts of smoke that will often come with a moxa treatment.

Do you accept insurance as payment?
Currently, we do not accept insurance plans.  However, if you are on a PPO plan and your insurance provider will accept it, we can provide you will an itemized ‘superbill’ that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.  Currently, we accept cash, check and credit cards as forms of payment. 

What should I expect from my first treatment?
On average, the initial acupuncture visit will last anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours.  The reason this first treatment is so much longer than follow-up visits is because of the extensive intake and health history that is taken.  Taking a thorough intake and health history helps your acupuncture practitioner to gain a full picture of your overall health and helps them to make a diagnosis based in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Since Chinese Medicine is a holistic form of medicine, it is important that your practitioner take all of the necessary organ systems into account when determining an accurate diagnosis. After the intake and health history is taken, an acupuncture treatment will be administered followed by a possible herbal prescription, nutritional counseling or exercise and lifestyle recommendations.

What should I wear to the treatment?
It’s best to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your acupuncture appointment.  Generally speaking, most needles are inserted into easily exposed areas of the body (hands, feet, lower legs and forearms) however occasionally some minor disrobing may be required to access necessary acupuncture points.  When this occurs, proper draping methods are always utilized to ensure your utmost privacy. 

What should I expect after the treatment?
Everyone responds to acupuncture differently.  Some people leave the treatment feeling refreshed, energized and invigorated - while others will sometimes leave an acupuncture treatment feeling relaxed, calm and possibly even sleepy.  All are perfectly normal responses to acupuncture and are usually a reflection of your individual constitution and the personalized treatment you received. 
The effects of an acupuncture treatment are usually felt immediately, however sometimes the full effects may not be felt for up to 12 to 24 hours following the treatment.  Be conscious of your body and frame of mind following your treatment.  If you feel tired, allow yourself time to rest.  If you’re hungry – eat a good healthy meal.  If you’re thirsty… you get the idea.  Acupuncture can be a profoundly grounding experience – pay attention to that – and allow yourself to enjoy the benefits it has to offer.

Is herbal medicine safe to take with my prescription medications?
In almost all cases, the answer to this question is a resounding Yes!  However, it is very important that your acupuncturist / herbalist know of any medications that you may be taking on the off chance of any possible Herb / Drug interactions.  Please refer to the “Herbal Medicine” section under the “Chinese Medicine” tab for more information of Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

What type of schooling is required for an acupuncturist to be licensed?
To be a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in the State of California is to be trained under the highest standards in the country for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 
The California State Legislature and the California Acupuncture Board have adopted the highest entry- level standards for the profession in the United States at 3,000 hours. On average, most programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine take 4 years of rigorous, full-time study to complete.
In California, acupuncturists are considered primary health care professionals, and need to meet a common standard of competence expected of all primary health care professionals, such as the ability to recognize serious diseases that may require immediate referral to a specialist, and the ability to perform primary health care examinations.
Center Point Acupuncture practitioners are licensed Nationally (Dipl. O.M., Dipl. Ac.) and with the State of California (L.Ac.)

Additional Questions?
If you have any additional questions that you did not see here on this list, please feel free to email us and we will answer them as best as we can.  If you have questions about Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or any questions you have regarding conditions diagnosed by Western Medicine – fire away!  We’ll do the best to help you out in any way we can.