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Acupuncture
Content medically reviewed by: Jake Swette, LAc
Enjoy the mental and physical benefits of acupuncture at Essentia Health. Count on experienced, licensed acupuncturists to help reduce your pain, improve mobility, and treat certain diseases.
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What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the main physical medicine component of Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM). It involves gently poking your skin at specific locations on your body with wire-thin needles. It is a treatment that places importance on the connection between mind, body, and spirit. The practice goes back several thousand years and was created in China. Now, it is a practice that integrates traditional medicine with science.
What’s an Acupuncturist
Why Seek Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is often used to reduce pain, improve mobility, and treat certain diseases. It also helps women’s health issues, such as hormonal issues, migraines, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Areas of acupuncture practice include:
- Needling: Inserting fine needles at specific sites on your body. This is to reduce pain and treat diseases.
- Herbalism: Therapeutic ingestion of plant, animal, and fungal substances.
- Some herbal formulas you can swallow as pills or teas; others you can apply to your skin.
- Tuina (twee-nah): Tuina is a form of physiotherapy that involves techniques that are similar to osteopathy, chiropractic, and massage therapy. It also includes cupping and guasha (gwah-saw).
- Cupping: Placing suction glass cups on specific places on your skin.
- Guasha: Gently scraping the skin with a blunt tool.
- Both can improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and treat pain, amongst other things.
- Lifestyle Guidance: Breathing and movement exercises as well as strategies to live in better harmony with nature's rhythms.
Before Your Appointment
Here are ways to make sure you have the best acupuncture experience:
- Be prepared for open communication about your health
- Wear loose-fitting clothing
- Do not wear perfumes or colognes
- If the appointment is in the morning and you brush your teeth, don’t brush your tongue
- No alcohol, coffee, or sugary drinks
What to Expect During Your First Appointment
During your first visit, your Acupuncturist will:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation
- Feel your pulse at various parts of your body
- Discuss your goals for care
- Explain acupuncture treatment options
- Work with you to develop a personalized care plan
- Administer your first treatment
After Your Appointment
For two hours after acupuncture, do not:
- Exercise
- Take a shower or bath
- Drink alcohol, sugary drinks, or coffee
- Take on strenuous mental tasks
Side Effects
After your treatment, you may notice that you somehow feel different in your body. You may experience mild soreness where the needles were placed. You may have mild dizziness for several minutes after treatment.
Less common side effects include:
- Feeling tired
- Stiffness of your neck and/or low back
- Fainting. This is rare and can happen in the treatment room when patients are dehydrated, exhausted, or very ill.
Be sure to communicate any effects that you may experience with your licensed acupuncturist, so they may modify treatment to accommodate your needs.
Cost & Insurance
Many insurance plans cover the expense of acupuncture treatment. Before scheduling your first visit, be sure to check with your insurance company to make sure you have coverage and to find out if you have a copay.
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Integrative Medicine
Rely on the integrative medicine professionals at Essentia Health to help you find effective mind-body therapies that complement your care.