Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes, in fact, the National Institute of Health (NIH) states that "the occurrence of adverse events in the practice of Acupuncture has been documented to be extremely low."

What health problems can Acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Instiute of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) as being effective in treating the following conditions.

Addiction (alcohol, drugs, smoking)	Emotional problems	Nausea
Anxiety	Facial Paralysis/Tics	Ostroarthritis
Arthritis	Fertility	Pain
Asthma	Fibromyalgia	Pneumonia
Bronchitis	Golfer's Elbow	Reproductive Problems
Carpal Tunnel	Headache	Rhinitis
Chronic fatigue	Incontinence	Sciatica
Colitis	Indigestion	Diarrhea
Common Cold	Irritable Bowel Syndrome	Shoulder Pain
Dental Pain	Low Back Pain	Sinusitis
Depression	Menstrual Irregularities	Sleep Disturbances
Digestive Issues	Migraine	Smoking
Dizziness	Morning Sickness	Sore Throat
Tennis Elbow	Trigeminal Neuralgia	Urinary Tract Infection
Menopause	Vomiting	Wrist Pain

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Due to our early traumatic experiences with needles from shots and vaccines, this is the most common question asked about acupuncture. The needles used during an acupuncture session are roughly the thickness of a cat's whisker, and are typically painless when used for insertion. The common sensations felt can vary from achy, tingling, warming, or no sensation at all. Each experience is different for each individual. Your comfort is important to us. If any discomfort is felt, inform the practitioner so the proper adjustments can be made. Active Life is certified in Clean Needle Technique (CNT) and needles are pre-packaged for one time use and disposal.

Is there Scientific evidence that Acupuncture works?

Yes, Acupuncture has survived the scrutiny of Western science and controlled double blind studies. It has also been endorsed by the NIH Consensus Committee for use as treatment for many health disorders. The data in support of acupuncture is as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies.

How should I prepare for my first acupuncture treatment?

Arriving to the clinic in a calm state is important. Try to arrive ten or fifteen minutes before your appointment to allow yourself a chance to relax. Vigorous exercise or sexual activity in the hour before treatment is not recommended.

You should not have recently eaten a large meal, nor should you be fasting for more than 6 hours before your appointment. The use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs is also not recommended prior to or just following a treatment.

Comfortable, loose clothing should be worn, Makeup and nail polish should be minimized or eliminated and please also avoid the use of perfumes, colognes or strongly scented cosmetics.

How many treatments will I need?

This depends upon the duration, severity and nature of your complaint. We begin with a series of five treatments which may be all that is needed for a minor acute condition. A continued treatment plan may be prescribed as well as herbal medicine to help resolve more chronic, degenerative conditions. We will discuss an estimated amount of treatments during your free initial consult.