Are masks required? As of May 2023 masking is now optional at PCA. If you have any cold/flu/COVID symptoms we ask that you reschedule. You are welcome to wear a mask at PCA and our practitioners are happy to do so as well.
How do I schedule an appointment? You can schedule using our fabulous scheduler Jane!
How does acupuncture work?
No one really knows. When we place the needles, they go through your skin and contact muscle tissue, interact with blood flow, lymph flow, and your nervous system. These signals cause the body to take notice and heal itself.
Will I see changes right away?
Everyone is different. Some people notice changes immediately, and others notice improvement a few hours after the treatment, or even the next day. If you’re coming once a week, and you’re noticing your symptoms are returning before you come back in, consider getting an extra treatment for a week or two.
Our treatment guidelines produce good results for the majority of people.
Here is our general guide:
- For severe or acute conditions or pain level at 9-10/10, we recommend treatments every day or every other day for one to two weeks.
- For moderate conditions or pain level at 6-8/10, we recommend treatments two or three times a week for a two or three weeks.
- For mild to moderate conditions at 2 – 5/10, we recommend treatments once per week for six to eight weeks.
- To support chronic conditions or health maintenance, we recommend weekly treatments on an ongoing basis.
It can take several treatments to learn what the right amount of acupuncture is for you.
Do the needles hurt?
Sometimes. There are often sensations like a slight pinch, tingle, heaviness, pressure. Occasionally an uncomfortable sensation will persist. Let us know if something doesn’t settle within the time we are inserting the needles. Generally, acupuncture is deeply relaxing and lots of people nap during treatment.
What are you injecting through the needles to make this work?
Nothing. Acupuncture needles are filiform, which means they are solid. In contrast, injection needles are hollow and designed to penetrate deeper into your tissues. Acupuncture needles are so thin that about a dozen of them would fit into a standard-sized hypodermic needle.
I have back pain. Will you put needles in my back?
No. To treat back pain we usually use points on your arms and legs, hands and feet. This is called distal treatment and it works!
Why did you put that needle there?
Acupuncture points are located on acupuncture channels or pathways. These pathways connect the organs and functions happening inside your body with energy centers on the surface of your body.
In acupuncture school, and through practice and experience we learn where to choose points to treat all kinds of conditions. We also rely upon the practice experience of acupuncturists that came before us and recorded their treatment strategies and results.
Points can be used alone or in combination to treat muscle or joint pain, digestive issues, menstrual pain, hormonal imbalances, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and so much more.
Acupuncture treatments are to our bodies, like a tune-up is to your car or bike. Not only can acupuncture help us feel better, it can help maintain function, and reduce the chances of “breaking down.”
I felt a twitching sensation near the problem area during my rest. What does that mean?
It means your body is responding to the suggestions the acupuncture needles are making.
During acupuncture it’s normal to have different sensations during your treatment. Some points feel heavy, warmth, coolness, itching, twitching, or aching. Sometimes you’ll even feel sensations where there aren’t any needles. As long as these sensations don’t keep you from relaxing or dozing off during your treatment, there’s nothing to be concerned about. These sensations are all clues that things are moving along and that’s really what an acupuncture treatment is all about.
I got a bruise after a treatment – is that ok?
A bruise is the most common “side effect” result of getting treated with acupuncture needles. To be clear, you shouldn’t expect bruises after every treatment, but you may find one every once in a while. A bruise may be sore for a few days and we can always avoid needling near one if you’re coming frequently.
If you’ve got any Arnica (a homeopathic bruising remedy that works VERY well) you’d be wise to use it as soon as you notice a bruise.
How will we be able to talk in the treatment room with so many other people in there with us?
This not a problem at all. Brief conversations between acupuncturist and patient are done chair-side while speaking quietly to one another. The treatment rooms have a good amount of space and ‘white noise’ between the chairs, so brief conversations aren’t overheard by others in the room.
Will it work better if I rest with the needles longer?
Not necessarily. We ask you how long you want to “cook” with the needles in. We suggest you stay 30 minutes minimum, and we allow 60 minutes maximum. Once you tell us how long, we keep track of the time while you relax. If at any point you want your needles out, just give us a wave or a nod.
Could you please explain to me how the sliding-scale works?
The sliding-scale is a tool to help each person decide how much to pay for their treatment. We want you to be able to afford to come in for treatment as often as needed. The fee structure is here to help you figure out a way to make this financially possible.
We’d also like to make it clear regardless of what each person pays on the scale, everybody gets the same time and attention, and in no way does the number of needles correlate with what you pay.
I’ve got a cough and cold, what should I do?
Don’t come in for treatment. Cancel online or call us to cancel. In the past we would suggest that you come in for treatment during a cold, but due to COVID-19 we’re being extra cautious.
I’ve been telling my friend/grandma/brother about acupuncture, but they are nervous to try it. Can we get treated together?
Sure! Getting to see friends and family napping and healing together is one of the most satisfying moments in our days. We really love it.
Can I move during treatment?
It’s best not to do a whole lot of moving around during treatment, but if you have an itch, need to put in your headphones, or cough into your sleeve by all means do so. You’ll notice if you move an area where there are needles placed you’ll feel them a bit more. To “reset” that feeling bring your arm or leg back to the position it was in when we needled it.
Thanks to Andy Wegman from Manchester Acupuncture Studio in Manchester, NH for many of these questions and answers above.
More FAQ from Andy’s FREE award winning e-book
Also available in Spanish or audio-book .
