The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles.
Almost every first-time acupuncture patient has some trepidation before the first visit. However, once the first needle has been inserted, it becomes very clear that an acupuncture needle has little in common with the nightmarish needles from our memories of childhood visits to the doctor. An acupuncture needle is a fraction of the thickness of a hypodermic needle. Common sensations from an acupuncture needle may include a mild temporary heaviness or soreness, slight tingling, warmth, moderate pulsations, or no sensation at all. If there is an initial sensation, it dissipates very quickly.
Because the needles are about the thinness of hair, insertion is often hardly felt at all. There may be an intermittent sharpness or a dull twinge, but these feelings are only momentary and far less unpleasant than a Western (needle) injection.
The needles are not inserted deep into the skin. When considering acupuncture, my patients often tell me they were most apprehensive about the needles. They were reassured to learn that the needles are FDA-approved as medical devices and are individually wrapped, totally sterile, and disposed of after one use. Those patients also discovered that the treatment was virtually painless because acupuncture needles are extremely thin and flexible — approximately 16 acupuncture needles together equal the thickness of a pin. Most importantly, my patients come to realize that the needles are simply tools to help them move through the process of healing and balance.
Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal.
- Don’t eat a large meal or be empty stomach before your visit.
- You can do your daily routine, but to avoid heavy duty excises before or after your treatment.
- Prefer to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. We do have disposable drape sheet to cover patient if the dress is too tight.
- Please do not wear heavy perfume. Next patient might not be a big fan of your perfume brand.
- Some patients feel very relaxed during and after the session, please take your time to be relaxed before you spend rest of your day.
- Chronic and acute pain, numbness or weakness, arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, Bell’s Palsy, bursitis, tendonitis, trigeminal neuralgia, sprains, sports injuries, post-stroke recovery
- Chronic fatigue, auto-immune diseases, post-surgical recovery, issues related to aging
- Menstrual irregularities: PMS, painful periods, menopausal symptoms, infertility, amenorrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding, morning sickness, vaginitis
- Respiratory problems: chronic or acute cough, wheezing, frequent infections, allergies, colds, flu, hay fever, sinus problems, post-nasal drip, ear infections, acute or chronic sore throats
- Digestive problems: irritable bowel, symptoms of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, chronic indigestion, acid reflux, chronic constipation or diarrhea, ulcers, problems with blood sugar regulation
- Emotional: anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic tension and stress, and addictions
- Genito-urinary: chronic yeast infections, cystitis, urinary urgency, impotence, incontinence
- Circulatory: anemia, cold extremities, hypertension, Reynaud’s phenomenon
- Pediatric: chronic infections of the ear, sinuses or throat, wheezing, bedwetting, cough, failure to thrive, migraines, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, trouble sleeping, learning difficulties, allergies
Once the needles have been placed, your might feel a dull ache or a tingling sensation which indicates that
the point has been accurately located, and only lasts for a second or two. Some people even fall asleep.
These are normal responses. Some people say they feel very relaxed when they are having a treatment,
others don’t feel much at all. Even if you don’t feel much you are benefiting from treatment.
Yes. To enhance the value of the treatment, the following guidelines are recommended:
- Do not come on an empty stomach.
- Do not eat an unusually large meal just before or after treatment.
- Do not over-exercise or consume alcoholic beverages 6 hours before or after treatment.
- Avoid cold and iced drinks, as well as cool food the day of the treatment.
- Allow for a period of rest immediately after your acupuncture treatment.
- Continue to take your prescription medications as prescribed by your primary care physician.
Treatments are between 20 minutes and 1 hour long. The first treatment may be up to 1 hour. In this time we
will take a full history spend time getting to know you and give you time to ask questions you may have. After
treatment, you can expect to feel less pain, more energy, and a heightened sense of well-being.
A better question would be “How many treatments will be necessary until I know if the treatments are helping?” The answer to this depends on a number of factors, including the severity and duration of the problem, as well as its complexity. An issue that has been troublesome for many years tends to require more treatments than a recent problem. Initial improvements for long-standing problems may be more temporary. As treatments progress further, improvements become more sustained.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treat individual people rather than isolated symptoms; therefore, any condition that can be understood as an imbalance in the body’s systems can be treated and altered. Once a pattern is correctly identified and treated, it is common for many of the symptoms associated with this pattern to improve—even ones that didn’t seem related to the initial condition.
Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and can help relieve many pregnancy and postpartum conditions. Because there are some acupuncture points that are contraindicated during pregnancy it is important to inform the practitioner if you are pregnant. We highly recommend acupuncture during your first trimester to help assist embryo development, prevent miscarriage, and address any other symptoms that may arise.
It depends on the conditions for which you take the medicines. If the medicines are taken as needed to control symptoms, then as these symptoms decrease with your acupuncture & herbal treatment, you will need less and less prescription medication. If you are on a regular regime of medicine for potentially serious medical problems, reducing these medicines may be advised in some cases, but only with the full cooperation and guidance of your medical doctor.
If:
- Conventional treatment options manage only the symptoms, with no lasting effect on the condition
- No clear diagnosis has been reached with conventional medicine
- Conventional treatment options have undesirable side effects
- Other treatments have had unsatisfactory results
- In addition to the main problem, there are multiple other health issues, even if they appear unrelated.
Treatment of any health issue with acupuncture and herbal medicine does not replace a physician’s care. It is important to utilize both medical systems, as each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Not at all. In the 2500-year history of acupuncture, a multitude of schools and approaches have developed which have some common ground and some divergence among them. A flexible approach to treatment of any given problem generally insures the best chance of eventual success. The same issue may be treated completely differently on two different visits from the same acupuncturist.
Any acupuncturist licensed in Pennsylvania State has been thoroughly trained in and tested on OSHA standards for disease transmission prevention. At Mainline Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, as is the rule throughout our profession, only sterile, disposable single-use needles are used. Prior to each needle’s insertion, the skin at each point to be stimulated is cleaned with alcohol.
The cost varies with what services are being used. After consultation, you will be advised with a treatment plan and the expense will be discussed prior to treatment.
Personal checks, cash, Mastercard & Visa. Unless there is full insurance coverage with no copay, payment is expected at each visit.
Please note: we do not accept Venmo, PayPal, or Apple Pay.
Yes! We accept:
- most health insurances ( IBX, Cigna, United Health Care, Aetna, etc.)
- auto/workers comp
Many plans offer either in-network or out-of-network benefits for acupuncture, sometimes with no deductible and no copay, others either a deductible or some co-pay. By far the easiest way to determine whether you have coverage is to make a phone call or email us, with all your insurance information. We will contact you with this information. If you wish to utilize insurance coverage for your acupuncture treatment, you need to do this at least a few days prior to coming for an appointment to allow for response time. For more details regarding health insurance: please click here.
In the event that you have no insurance coverage, note that if you are already claiming medical expenses as a deduction on your tax returns, the cost of acupuncture treatments is now considered a legitimate tax-deductible medical expense.
Yes. We accept HSA card. You can use your HSA card for service payment.
For Ardmore Office: we are next to Buckman’s Ski & Snowboard Shop Ardmore. Please note, there is parking and a rear entrance in the back of the building.
For Wilmington Office: there is parking in front of the building.
