FAQs

Q: What is acupuncture?
A: Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points shown as effective in the treatment of specific health problems. These points have been mapped by the Chinese over a period of two thousand years. Recently, electromagnetic research has confirmed their locations.

Q: What are some of the commonly treated disorders at King’s Acupuncture?
A: They are listed in alphabetical order as follows:
Acid Reflux
Addiction and Substance Abuse
Allergy
Anxiety
Asthma
Back Pain
Bell’s Palsy
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel
Depression
Diabetes (Type II)
Digestive Disorder (IBS, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea)
Drug Addiction
Dysmenorrhea (painful period)
Edema
Emotional Imbalance (panic attack)
Fibromyalgia
Frozen Shoulder
Hay Fever
Headaches
Hepertension
Incontinence
Infertility
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Menstruation Disorder
Menopausal Symptoms
Migraines
Muscle Spasm
Musculo-Sketetal Pain (from neck to toe) Including Arthritic Conditions
Nausea/Vomiting
Nervousness
Neuralgia
Neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy)
Obesity (weight control)
Paralysis
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Rotator Cup Dysfunction
Sciatica
Sexual Impotence
Shingles (post herpetic neuralgia)
Side Effects of Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinsonism
Sinus
Smoke Cessation
Stiff Neck
Stress management
Stroke Rehab
Tendinitis
Tennis Elbow
Tic Douloureux
Tinnitis
Trigeminal Neuralgia

Q: What problems can be treated by Acupuncture according to the World Health Organization?
A: A committee of the United Nations World Health Organization has issued a list of over 40 disorders that lend themselves to treatment by Acupuncture, such as:
1. Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Headache and Migraine
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Facial Palsy (early stage, within 3-6 months)
Paresis (following a stroke)
Peripheral Neuropathies
Meniere’s Disease
Nocturnal Enuresis
Cervicobrachial Syndrome
“Frozen Shoulder”, “Tennis Elbow”
Sciatica
Low Back Pain
Osteoarthritis
2. Respiratory System
Acute Sinusitis
Acute Rhinitis
Common Cold
Acute Tonsillitis
Acute Bronchitis
Bronchial Asthma
3. Disorders of the Eye
Acute Conjunctivitis
Central Retinitis
Myopia (in children)
Cataract (without complications)
4. Disorders of the Mouth
Toothaches, post-extraction pain
Gingivitis
Acute and Chronic Pharyngitis
5. Gastrointestinal Disorders
Hiccough
Acute and Chronic Gastritis
Gastric Hyperacidity
Chronic Duodenal Ulcer
Acute Duodnal Ulcer (without complications)
Acute and Chronis Colitis
Constipation
Diarrhea

Q: What conditions may respond to acupuncture according to New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions?
A: Many conditions may respond to Acupuncture, including those related to the following:
Neurological System
Musculo-skeletal System
Respiratory System
Gynecologic and Reproductive System
Digestive System
Genito-Urinary System

Acupuncture may also help with:
Acute and Chronic Pain
Maintaining Emotional Pain
Stress Reduction and Detoxification

Q: How do acupuncturists treat health conditions?
A: Using the principles of oriental medicine, the acupuncturist will examine you by looking, listening, asking questions, and touching. This allows the acupuncturist to record a full case history.

Once an evaluation is made, the acupuncturist may insert vary fine acupuncture needles into a number of points on your body. The purpose of the needles is to stimulate acupuncture points; the needles do not inject any substance into the body.

In some cases, acupuncture may be accompanied by electrical stimulation or the burning of moxa, a form of heat therapy. Acupuncturists may also use a variety of other techniques including herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, cupping, Gua Sha, oriental massage (Tui Na), ointment or lotion

A Licensed Acupuncturist has extensive training covering both Eastern and Western Medical disciplines as well as nutrition (East & West), counseling and exercise. Licensed Acupuncturists very often would counsel patients on diet, exercise, and life style changes as part of the comprehensive holistic approach to maintain good health.

Q: What is a Licensed Acupuncturist?
A: An acupuncturist is a licensed health care professional who, based on the concepts of oriental medicine, maintains the health of patients, evaluates, and treats their illness and pain.

Q: What is the difference between a Licensed acupuncturist and a Certified acupuncturist?
A: A Licensed acupuncturist has completed a three year (a minimum of 4050 hours) professional training program in acupuncture that includes both theory and hands-on clinical practice. In addition, a licensed acupuncturist must pass a state approved 2 day licensing examination before becoming licensed.

A Certified acupuncturist is a medical doctor or a dentist who only needs to complete 300 hours of acupuncture study before issuance of a certificate. There is no requirement for state board examination before issuance of a certificate. Certified acupuncturists sometimes call themselves medical acupuncturists. Comparing to a licensed acupuncturist, a certified acupuncturist knows only the elementary aspect of the acupuncture and oriental medicine theory and has very limited hands-on clinical acupuncture training.

Q: What is the relationship between acupuncturist and a medical doctor?
A: Acupuncturists are Independent Health Care Providers; you do not need a physician referral to receive treatment from an acupuncturist.

By law, your acupuncturist must advise you of the importance of your seeing a physician. When this is done, you will be asked to sign a form saying that you were advised of this. You will get one copy of the form, and a second copy will become part of your record.

Even though by law you do not need a physician referral, however for insurance purposes, many health insurance companies require a referral from your primary care provider (PCP) such as your family physician.

Q: What credentials do New York licensed acupuncturists have?
A: A licensed acupuncturist has completed a three year professional training program in acupuncture after a minimum of two years of college education. This three year program (a minimum of 4050 hours) includes both theory and hands-on clinical practice. In addition, a licensed acupuncturist must pass a State-approved licensing examination before becoming licensed.

Q: How deep do the needles go?
A: That depends upon the nature of the problem, the location of the points selected, the patient’s size, age, and constitution. Usually, needles are inserted from a ¼ of an inch to an inch in depth.

Q: Does it hurt?
A: The needles we use are much finer than the familiar hypodermic needles. In Chinese, acupuncture is (bu tong) painless. Some western culture may categorize these sensations such as distention, tingling or heaviness as type of pain. In any case, if there is any discomfort, it is usually mild. In fact, while many acupuncture patients are initially wary of the claim that acupuncture doesn’t hurt; they soon discover that the experience is quite pleasurable. Acupuncture has been proven to stimulate the release of opiate-like hormones and normally induces a deep state of relaxation, balance, and healing.

Q: How does acupuncture work?
A: Traditional acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (Energy) and Xue (Blood) through distinct meridians or pathways that cover the body somewhat like the nerves and blood vessels do. According to ancient theory, acupuncture allows Qi to flow to areas where it is deficient and away from where it is excess. In this way, acupuncture regulates and restores the harmonious energetic balance of the body. In Chinese there is a saying, “There is no pain if there is a free flow; if there is pain, there is no free flow”.

Even though modern Western medicine cannot fully explain exactly how acupuncture works, recent scientific research gave the following plausible explanations for the efficacy of acupuncture treatments in certain disorders:

1. Considerable evidence supports the claims that beta-endorphin, corticosteriods, and serotonin are leased while Substance P is inhibited in the nervous system during acupuncture. These at least partially explained the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and muscle relaxing effect of acupuncture for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
2. Acupuncture is useful in treatment of allergies, asthma and/or auto-immunity because acupuncture promotes release of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids; causes release of histamine from mast cells thus diminishing the supply of it to general circulation; improves leucocyte phagocytosis and increases immunoglobubin and T-cell levels. Animal studies show acupuncture improves microcirculation, lymphokinesis and promotes granulation.
3. Acupuncture provokes the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter that prevents anxiety and stress related messages from reaching the motor centers of the brain. Acupuncture causes release of norepinephrine from postganglionic sympathetic fibers, possibly exhausting the supply of that neurotransmitter from producing “fight or fly” tension.
4. Acupuncture provokes the release of serotonin which helps to treat depression and in maintaining emotional balance. The release of opiate-like hormones normally induce a deep state of relaxation, balance and healing.
5. Recent brain MRI imaging studies confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving pain.

Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: That depends upon the duration, severity, and nature of the complaint. You may need only a single treatment for an acute condition. Most health problems take more than one treatment to resolve. Expect to have four treatments before a reassessment. Many problems may require ten or more treatments before significant benefits accrue. Along the way, though, you should see an overall improvement in your health as your main complaint improves as well.

Q: Is there anything I need to do before receiving an acupuncture treatment?
A: Yes, the following suggestions will help you get the maximum benefits from your treatment:
1. Maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the possibility of bacterial infection.
2. To prevent loss, do not wear jewelry.
3. Wear loose clothing. Women should not wear one-piece dresses. Avoid wearing tight stockings.
4. Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full or emotional upset.

Q: Is they’re anything I need to do while receiving acupuncture?
A: Yes, again.
1. Relax. There is no need to be frightened. Ask Dr. Lau or nurses-aide any questions you have along the way so that you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment.
2. Because your doctor wipes the acupuncture sites with alcohol and we use only disposable needles, there is no risk of infection from the treatment.
3. Do not change your position or move suddenly. If you are uncomfortable, please let us know.
4. Very rarely people would experience dizziness, nausea, cold sweat, shortness of breath, or faintness during the treatment. This might occur if you are nervous. Inform your practitioner immediately so we can readjust or withdraw the needles. Also let your practitioner know if you feel an increasing amount of pain or burning sensation during the treatment.

Q: What can I expect after the treatment?
A: Patients often experience the most dramatic results in the first treatment. Some patients experience an immediate total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms. This relieve may last or some pain may return. Some cases, there may be no immediate relief only to notice the pain diminish over the next couple days. Generally, you should expect to feel better.

Most patients will have more questions than this FAQ can answer. We at King’s Acupuncture and Wellness Center are used to answering questions such as: Should I continue to see my medical doctor? Should I continue taking my present medication? What should I eat? Is there anything I can do for myself at home? What signs of success should I look for first and after how long? Please feel free to discuss all your questions in person with Dr. Lau.