Avenue Acupuncture FAQs

Laser acupuncture can be used in all of the same situations as traditional acupuncture, including acute and chronic pain, macular degeneration, glaucoma, paresthesias, neuralgias, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, frozen shoulder, arthritis and arthrosis, bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ dysfunction, cervical and lumbar spine syndromes, dermatoses, asthma, headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, nerve regeneration, wound healing, and much more.

Yes. Because laser acupuncture is non-invasive, it carries zero risk of infection or other complications for patients with compromised immune systems or bleeding disorders.

Most people are familiar with the more common herbs such as ginseng, licorice root, gingko biloba, and ginger. There are actually thousands of Chinese herbs documented for their medicinal properties and usage. Around 300 of these herbs are more commonly used in clinical practice today. Chinese herbs are carefully prescribed to each patient depending on their different constitutions, taking into account their signs and symptoms. The herbs are not usually taken individually, but rather prescribed in a formula using between 4 to 20 different herbs.

The herbs used at the clinic are all in granular form, so it is only a simple matter of diluting them in warm water to drink. While the taste is not always pleasant, the effects are time-proven.

Chinese herbs have been used for millennia, with documentation dating back as far as 200 BCE. Today, over 3,000 Chinese herbs have been categorized for their clinical benefit, with around 300 of them in more common use.

Each acupuncture treatment typically takes 30 minutes. After the needles are inserted, it is important to rest and relax while the body attunes to the improved state of blood flow.

Patients are usually suggested a treatment frequency of 1-3 sessions per week, depending on the condition being treated.

Due to the specialized style of acupuncture practiced at the clinic, patients experiencing pain will observe almost immediate effects on their first visit. However, everyone holds the treatments at different rates, thus a patients “rate of response” must be determined after a few sessions. As a rule of thumb, for every year you have had a condition, it will take a month to relieve it.

Yes. The method of acupuncture practiced at Avenue Acupuncture does not require needling on the trunk, thus there is no risk of any organ damage. There is no risk of nerve damage as the needles are extremely thin and not rough enough to cut through a nerve like a knife would.
All needles used are pre-sterilized and disposed of after use.

When patients try acupuncture for the first time, they are usually amazed by how much it DOES NOT hurt. Most patients will arrive expecting a similar feeling to that of a hypodermic needle, the needle doctors’ use for injections or withdrawing blood. However, acupuncture needles are much thinner, and non-hollow. Thus, they do not cut out a section of the skin and tissue, but rather smoothly divide the tissue, allowing for much less pain. However, as this is a medicine based on muscle and nerve stimulation, some sensations should be felt to yield maximum results.

Side effects of acupuncture are usually very minimal, especially when compared to the side effects of modern pharmaceuticals. Possible adverse reactions may include:

• Minor bruising
• Minor soreness in needling location
• Slight dizziness

Typically, the patient feels few side effects, but rather increased side benefits. Since acupuncture has the function of increasing the body’s circulation and stimulating the nervous system, most people report that they have increased energy, improved sleep, and a decrease in other symptoms, none of which were specifically being addressed during the treatment.

No.
Acupuncture has a good effect even on animals, small children/babies, and non-believers. There have been numerous third-party studies validating the effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese medicine.