Acupuncture FAQ | Holmdel Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

FAQs

Your Acupuncture Questions, Answered

Acupuncture can help stress, anxiety, depression, pain, infertility, IBS and other GI tract problems, autoimmune diseases, hormonal problems, and much more.

What is involved in the initial visit?

When you come to your initial consultation with us, the practitioner on that day will conduct an extensive interview with you where he or she will go over your medical history, your diet, lifestyle etc. He or she will explain to you how we can help you. You will then be taken to one of our treatment rooms where the practitioner will carefully take your pulse, check your tongue, and palpate your abdomen if necessary. More questions related to your body’s energy system might be asked before a comprehensive Oriental medical diagnosis is derived. The diagnosis would always indicate a disharmony or blockage of energy in certain meridians or organs.

Then a few disposable stainless and painless needles will be gently inserted to a group of acupuncture points to restore the balance and smooth flow of energy. The needles will be left in the body for about 40-45 minutes before they are removed. The majority of our patients fall asleep during this time. Your body will reset, repair, and restore during this healing nap because you will feel better after the session is over!

What should I wear?

You should wear comfortable loose fitting clothes.

What can I expect?

Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and Oriental medicine. You should get some relief even after the first treatment. In addition to the relief of symptoms, many of our patients have reported increased energy, less stress and anxiety, improved sleep, and improved sense of well being.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments needed depends on the complexity of your illness, whether it’s a chronic or recent condition, and your general state of health. For example, you may need only one treatment if you pulled your muscle recently. Whereas for a long standing, chronic illness you may need treatments once or twice a week for a few weeks to get a lot of relief.

Is acupuncture painful?

We only use the best quality needles available. They are made in Japan and they are very fine and flexible, about the same diameter as human hair. Plus we are specially trained on needle insertion, you don’t feel the needle go in your body at all. We also have a handful of kids from as little as 5 year old to as big as 18 year old come for treatment on regular basis. They never complain about the needles. That should give you a pretty good idea about our skills.

Is acupuncture safe?

In the hands of a well‑trained acupuncturist, your safety is assured. We use individually packed sterile needles and dispose them after each patient so that there is no chance of contamination.

What is acupuncture good for?

Acupuncture has been recognized by medical professionals to be effective for pain relief, post‑surgery and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting. In 1996, the National Institute of Health recognized that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses, such as addiction, asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, headaches, irregular period, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sciatica, sinusitis, spastic colon, stroke rehabilitation, tendinitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems etc.

Acupuncture can be safely combined with prescription medicines and other forms of treatments. But we recommend you to tell your primary care physician about the treatments so he or she can monitor your condition.

What should I look for to find a good acupuncturist?

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is a complex form of medicine that has been practiced in China for over three thousand years. It definitely takes at least three to four years (full time) of schooling and hundreds of treatments at a clinic or hospital before someone can master the knowledge and skill. In order for a practitioner to be well qualified, he or she must have a state license, be well trained, have sufficient clinical experience. And above all, he or she needs to have good healing energy.

Restoring Health and Wellness

At Holmdel Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Center, our mission is simple: to help you feel better, happier, healthier, and well-balanced. Our experienced acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners believe true wellness begins when mind, body, and spirit are in harmony.

From the moment you enter our clinic, you’ll sense the calm energy that flows through every space. Each treatment is designed to restore your body’s natural rhythm and encourage lasting healing.