You have probably heard about acupuncture, but if you are like many people, you probably have no idea what it entails. Simply put, acupuncture involves sticking needles through the skin in order to achieve some type of health benefit. Although this process may seem weird to you, there are many benefits to this treatment. Continue reading to further educate yourself on the topic of acupuncture.
Since acupuncture is a form of alternative treatment, the cost is not likely to be covered by traditional insurance. Sometimes it only takes one treatment to get symptomatic relief, so the cost is not prohibitive. If several treatments are needed the cost of treatment may become too expensive to continue.
Although needles are involved, acupuncture should not be too painful.
Keep in mind that the needles are generally a lot thinner than those you encounter in your doctor’s office. Therefore, if you are nervous about getting “stuck,” you really should not be. You will feel them, but you should not experience extreme pain.
Determine if and how your insurance plan covers acupuncture. Some plans cover acupuncture only if you are referred by your regular practitioner for a medical condition. Other plans cover acupuncture visits as wellness visits. Find out if your health insurance covers acupuncture so you can save some cash on the procedure.
Understand that acupuncture focus on the entire well being of you as a person. In Western culture, it’s often the norm to concentrate on symptoms, what’s ailing you immediately. That’s not true of acupuncture. It looks at the big picture and tries to help your entire body. It’s a major difference in thought.
Call your insurance company to see if acupuncture is a covered service.
If you do what you need to do to sort insurance and billing before your first visit, you can be able to fully relax during your sessions. Doing this will relax you, which will boost the effectiveness of your treatment.
Have you been toying with the idea of having acupuncture done? It has become so popular that it can be hard to choose a good acupuncture office in your area. Asking friends and relatives who they see can be helpful. The Internet can also be a great resource for finding a great acupuncture office.
Chronic pains can be cured with acupuncture. If you often experience pain in your lower back or in your joints, you should find a good acupuncturist. You should notice a difference after your first treatment but additional sessions will be needed to make sure your chronic pain does not come back.
As you would with many other services, schedule a consultation with any prospective acupuncturists.
These generally last 10-15 minutes, but they can give you an idea of whether or not they are right for you. Ask them any questions that you have, talk about their experience and education, express any concerns, and pay attention to how they make you feel in their office. If you ever feel uncomfortable, try someone else.
If you are interested in acupuncture but cannot afford it, ask your practitioner if they will accept you as a patient on a sliding scale. Many practitioners offer this service, as they realize the health benefits offered by this therapy. Typically, you will pay only what you can afford or agree to a bulk payment for several treatments.
If you are receiving an acupuncture treatment and notice that pain persists for more than two minutes after a needle is inserted, speak up. Sometimes a needle can hit a spot in the body called a nerve meridian. When this happens, the result is discomfort and pain. The practitioner might need to remove the needle and try again in a different spot.
Consider looking at specialized acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncture, like traditional medicine, is a vast field, so you are bound to find treatments and acupuncturists that specialize in specific areas. For instance, there is acupuncture that specializes in just migraines and headaches or just chronic pain and stress.You might want to find someone that knows specialized treatments for your particulate ailments.
Do not worry if you feel sore after a treatment. If your acupuncturist manages to release one of the triggers that was causing you to feel tense or stressed, you will probably feel sore in this area for at least a day after your appointment. Contact your acupuncturist if you feel sore for more than a day.
Avoid drinking alcohol for at least several days after having acupuncture treatments. When you have this type of procedure done, it releases a lot of toxins into your body. These toxins sometimes cause the body to become dehydrated, and having alcohol in your system will only make the situation worse.
Although acupuncture is an ancient treatment, it can work wonders for treating many different types of ailments. You just need the proper knowledge on how to utilize it. You should now be much more informed on this subject so that you can make the best decisions when it comes to acupuncture.