Does acupuncture work?
Absolutely! It has been used for thousands of years on millions of people all over the world for many diseases and to promote health. Today, the World Health Organization and our National Institutes of Health have recommended it as an effective treatment for well over 100 conditions. And here in the United States more and more research is coming out in support of what’s been a time-tested, evidence-based reality for many patients – acupuncture as an effective help in treatment for conditions like all sorts of pain, women’s issues, insomnia, nausea, addictions & weight loss to name just a few.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture uses your own body’s energy to heal itself. This energy travels along pathways throughout your body to all your cells, tissues, organs, muscles, joints, etc. It’s what makes your body work right. When the energy in these channels is flowing well, you’re in vibrant health. When the energy becomes blocked or doesn’t move right, you’re in for some pain, dysfunction or disease. Along the pathways of energy flow there are points or little “switches” that help control different functions or directions of flow of this energy. Your acupuncturist selects the points that are best used to treat your specific condition. These points help your energy flow better which restores balance and allows you to heal more effectively.
Does it hurt?
No! The needles are so small you often feel nothing, or occasionally only a little pinch. Furthermore, George does not have to use needles to gain the positive effect of acupuncture because he can stimulate the acupuncture points using pressure, electrical stimulation or laser all of which do not puncture the skin with needles. We call this “Acupuncture without Needles.”
What does acupuncture help & can I use it with modern medicine?
It can help with almost anything! Why? Because it seeks to restore balance to your body systems, so your body can work better at anything it needs to do. So, if your condition requires serious medical attention as a primary focus, then acupuncture is a great supportive therapy that can help with strengthening the immune system, relieving pain, controlling side-effects, etc. When using herbs while being treated, it is very important for both your acupuncturist and treating doctors to know what medications and herbs you are considering to avoid any dangerous toxic interactions. For other conditions that modern medicine does not address as well, acupuncture is a wonderful primary therapy.
How long are the sessions, how many will I need and how often?
It depends on the patient & their condition and how quickly they want to get results Sessions can last from as little as 10 minutes to 1 hour — most are between 30 and 60 minutes. George offers many different treatments (such as manual therapies, acupressure & electromedicine) as well, so if you opt for additional or combined services, that will extend the time. Again, depending on the condition and patient’s goals, it may require initially from 1to 3 or 4 visits per week for one or two weeks, and then less for a little while until the condition is stable or the pain is maximally under control. Many conditions see results within 3 to 6 sessions, and require 8 to 12 sessions to be stable. Some take longer, and some of the long-standing conditions may require some regular reinforcement for a life time to prevent regression and maintain health. Other conditions, even some that have lasted a long time, can be relieved immediately with the first session with only 1 or 2 appointments to follow up, and many conditions can be helped by the patient themselves with homework that George will assign. He loves to empower you to help yourself as much as possible.