Acupuncture-Chinese Medicine for pain relief and more
While many people seek acupuncture for safe and successful relief of pain, acupuncture is proven effective for many acute and chronic conditions.
How does Acupuncture work?
The 1997 National Institute of Health (NIH) reported that "studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses . . . resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones, and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally, have been documented. There is also evidence of alterations in immune functions produced by acupuncture. Acupuncture may be a reasonable option for a number of clinical conditions." (NIH Conference on Acupuncture November 3-5, 1997)
What is an acupuncture treatment like?
Relaxing! Typically 10-12 sterile, thin needles, the thickness of a hair, are inserted ¼ - 1” into specific body ‘points’. While acupuncture can elicit local sensations of tingling, numbness or heaviness, acupuncture is a gentle treatment and ought be painless. Most people experience welcomed relaxation and typically fall asleep during the 30 minute treatment.
How many acupuncture treatments are needed?
Many acute conditions often resolve in 2-5 treatments. Generally speaking, other situations may require a series of 10-12 treatments. Chronic conditions, after initial series, can be managed with 1-2 treatments a month, or during flare-ups.
Does acupuncture have side effects?
When preformed by a comprehensively educated licensed acupuncturist (LAc.) certified in Clean Needle Technique, acupuncture is a very safe treatment. While infrequent, bruising at the site of some points is possible. The chance of infection is remote. In a 1997 report the National Institute of Health (NIH) states, “One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions. As an example, musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain and tennis elbow are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. These painful conditions are often treated with, among other things, anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, NSAIDS, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.) or with steroid injections. Both medical interventions have a potential for deleterious side effects, but are still widely used and are considered acceptable treatments. However, the evidence supporting these therapies is no better than that for acupuncture.
Does Medical Insurance Cover Acupuncture?
Some health insurance plans cover a predetermined number of acupuncture treatments for specific conditions. We recommend you contact your insurer directly to clarify the benefits of your particular plan. Transition To Health is an in-network acupuncture provider for HealthPartners and Medica and will submit claims directly to them. For other insurers, treatment is paid by the patient at the time of service and a Superbill is provided. Simply submit the Superbill to your insurer and any reimbursement funds available will be paid directly to you. Transition To Health is able to submit claims for auto and worker’s compensation cases. We require documentation that the case is open with available benefits prior to starting treatment. In all cases, we are happy to call your insurance company and verify your coverage.
Please call us with any questions or concerns!