For the incorporation of herbal remedies, as with any food or drug taken internally, care must be taken to follow instructions from your practitioner exactly so that combination of herbal remedies outlined for you will have the best therapeutic effect. In some cases, stomach upsetness may occur. Please report any side effects you may feel to the practitioner as soon as possible so that we can revise your treatment plan for optimal effect and comfort.
The first consultation visit will be slightly longer as the practitioner gathers information about your overall health to plan out a treatment plan. Each acupuncture treatment session can last from 20-40 minutes, depending on your specific treatment plan.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only. In our clinic, only disposable one-time-use sterilized needles are used. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners should always use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should disinfect the treatment area thoroughly before inserting needles.
Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a licensed and experienced acupuncture practitioner.
The 2007 NHIS data indicated 6.5% of Americans had reported ever using acupuncture. Of these, 22% had seen an acupuncturist in the last 12 months, and 25% of those who had tried acupuncture had done so at least once, and 70% had seen an acupuncturist at least 5 times. The majority of those who had seen an acupuncturist had done so usually for some kind of pain, primarily arthritis and other orthopedic pain, headaches, or fibromyalgia. The study results showed growing popularity among those with chronic conditions that impact the quality of life and self sufficiency. Various studies on acupuncture utilization suggests that from about 5-25% of people in the world, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, will at some time try acupuncture. Conventional therapies are often used along with acupuncture in these cases.
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