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Licensed Acupuncturists complete 3-4 years of Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine Training, graduate training, and clinical training before becoming licensed.
When performed by a licensed and trained practitioner, acupuncture is a safe and non-pharmacological approach to treating many acute and chronic conditions.
Acupuncture is typically not painful. However, some acupuncture points are more sensitive and may elicit a fleeting subtle pinch. If a needle feels uncomfortable for over a minute, let your acupuncturist know, and they can adjust it. Your acupuncturist will always check in on you during treatment to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed. Most of the time, you may not notice them upon needle insertion as they are hair-thin. Once all the needles are in, most patients feel calm and often fall asleep on the table.
Acupuncture is a minimally invasive treatment; however, there may be side effects like any medical treatment. Nevertheless, many people leave their session feeling very relaxed and focused. For most people, symptoms like improved sleep quality, mental clarity, and less stress are common side effects that immediately follow an acupuncture session. In addition, some people may experience minimal bruising around the needled areas. Less common side effects may include itching and slight aching, typically around needled sites. Fatigue, some patients may feel sleepy after leaving a session. In addition, symptoms of lightheadedness and nausea may occur. Eating light before treatment is a useful preventative measure to avoid lightheadedness or nausea. Another less common side effect may be a flare-up in symptoms before seeing an improvement.
Sterilized and single-use filiform needles are placed at specific acupuncture points throughout the body. The most common areas are at or below your elbows, knees, back, abdomen, and ears.
Your practitioner will take a complete health history and evaluate the condition you are seeking treatment for. Next, the practitioner will feel your pulse, look at your tongue, and may palpate specific body areas to look for tender spots. After the evaluation, your practitioner will get you comfortable on the treatment table and prepare you for your first acupuncture treatment. Once the needles are placed, you will be resting with the needles retained for 25-30 minutes. The entire initial visit may take between 1 and 1.5 hours. All follow-up visits are an hour. Upon checkout, your practitioner will discuss a treatment plan and other recommendations to achieve optimal results.
The best way to prepare is to eat something light before your treatment. Also, wear loose, comfortable clothing so that your arms and legs are easily accessible.
Acupuncture treatments are cumulative in effect. Therefore, for optimal results, multiple treatments are recommended. After your initial intake, your practitioner will provide a treatment plan based on your needs and health presentation. Acute conditions may respond more quickly and may require fewer treatments. Chronic conditions can take longer to see long-lasting results. Many people notice changes immediately, while it may take longer for others. Generally, significant and lasting improvements are noticed after repeated treatments. Therefore, keep written or mental notes of your symptoms as you progress during your treatments.
Acupuncture is considered safe during pregnancy and can relieve many pregnancy and post-partum conditions.
We are in-network providers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. We are out-of-network providers for Cigna, Aetna, and United Healthcare. If you want to verify your insurance, head to the "verify insurance" button at the top of the website. From there, you can input your insurance details, and we'll follow up with you once your verification details return. You can also call us and we can further assist you through the process.
