FAQs

Generally speaking it does not hurt, although there are a few points on the body that are more sensitive than others, such as the palms of the hands or the feet.  It is very common for people to feel a pressure, heaviness, or slight electrical sensation at the needle site.  These are all signs that the therapeutic effect is taking place.  An acupuncture needle is approximately 25-50 times thinner than a hypodermic needle used to draw your blood.  That means that we can fit about 15-25 acupuncture needles inside of one hypodermic needle.

The answer to that question is in the amount of training received.  According to the State of Colorado, a chiropractor or doctor requires 100 hours of training and completion of a minimum of 25 clinical cases.  A nationally certified acupuncturist in the state of Colorado is required to complete a 3,045 hour program with at least 1,140 hours of clinical experience (at least 250 patients) training under a licensed practitioner.

While there are still many pieces of the great web of Chinese medicine that we do not understand, there are many pieces that we have discovered.  The Eastern explanation is that everyone has an energy source, Qi (pronounced “chi”), coursing through the body in various meridians, or pathways.  When there is a disease or injury, these meridians become blocked, stagnant, or unbalanced.  When the needles are placed in specific points, the meridians begin to function properly and return to balance, in turn, causing the body to heal.  The biomedical explanation is that the needles stimulate the nervous system and cause the hypothalamus-pituitary system to activate the body’s immune system to heal itself.  We know through studies that white blood cell counts increase, inflammation decreases, blood pressure can decrease, and endorphins are released.  The endorphins can play a pivotal role in regulating hormone levels, pain management, and immune system function.  Acupuncture even has an effect on the body’s serotonin level, making it effective for treating emotional disorders such as depression.

The herbs used at Healthy Life Acupuncture are from American suppliers that are certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) companies as well as ones that utilize third party laboratory testing.  Good Manufacturing Practices are guidelines established by Australia and adopted by the United States that ensures quality manufacturing in addition to documenting every step of the process.  Moreover, third party laboratories inspect all herbs for heavy metals, toxins, and microscopic bacteria that can be harmful to patients before they are shipped to practitioners.

Each treatment lasts one hour.  The practitioner will diagnose your condition based on a number of factors including the main symptoms, lifestyle, health history, as well as pulse and tongue diagnosis.  Upon completion of the diagnosis, needles will be placed in the body to help treat your condition.  Also, at this time, the patient is free to ask any questions they may have as well as discuss the treatment course.

Bring or wear comfortable, loose clothing.  Also, please make sure to eat before your acupuncture treatment.

The average course is 5-10 treatments.  However, your course of treatment depends on many factors and this will be evaluated by the practitioner.

Healthy Life Acupuncture accepts cash, all major credit cards, and you can even use your health savings plan debit cards!  Gift cards are also available for purchase.