Acupuncture FAQ

March 20th, 2012 /

166B Acton Avenue

Rivervale

Perth 6103.                                     

Acupuncture Clinic Phone or text to: 0410094602.

 


About the clinic.

Acu-Care  Naturopathics operates from a professional home based office and treatment room which allows for flexible appointment times for busy working people along with sustainably affordable consultation fees. The Acu-Care clinic is centrally located; this makes it easily accessible for many of Perth’s suburbs. 

 Acu-Care Standards & Accreditations.

Acupuncture treatment at Acu-Care Naturopathics is carried out in line with professional standards which have been developed and set  by the Chinese Medicine registration Board of Australia (CMRBA) and are detailed in the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) codes of  professional conduct and safe practice.  Acu-Care Naturopathics treatment room and all of the equipment used conforms to the standards which have been put in place by the code of safe practice, also in all cases have been approved by the local  (Belmont) government authority environmental health officers.
Acu-Care Naturopathics is an approved and accredited clinic by the Local Council of Belmont.
The Australian Natural therapists Association (ANTA) 

The Federation of Chinese Medicine Australia (FCMA)

Acupuncturist registered with The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA)


 

Q: In a nutshell how does acupuncture actually work.

Today many medical doctors and specialists believe that either pharmaceutical drugs and / or surgery are the only ways to treat common health conditions however surgery is often not the answer. Long term pharmaceutical use can leave you drug dependent and be the cause of organ damage leaving you emotionally drained.
Acupuncture patients are generally surprised to find that after only a few treatments their pain levels have decreased and their mobility increased and many find they are able to reduce dependence on medical drugs and or avoid surgery.
Blood tests and MRI’s have shown that acupuncture repairs damaged tissue and helps create new healthy tissue.  Acupuncture modulates the neuro-endocrine system and vasodilate’s your injured body part and reduces swelling in the nerve endings that are responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. Acupuncture will then increase the bodies level of endorphins which in turn increase blood flow through the body to the area’s that have become painful, stagnant and inflamed.
Traditional acupuncture terms can also be confusing for western people, terms such as chi and Yin and Yang, to the majority of people are confusing, so to clarify this ‘Chi’ refers to the electrical energy produced by the central nervous system and yin and yang refer to the anatomical nervous system (ANS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) acupuncture meridians refer to the fascia lines that run through your body and acupuncture points are small nodes that are situated on the fascia lines.  For a more detailed explanation on how acupuncture works please click on the ‘how does acupuncture work’ page.



Q: Do you give health fund rebates for acupuncture.

Yes: Refer to our list of health fund providers by clicking on the link at the top of the page. 

 

Q: Is acupuncture limited to treating joint and muscle pain.

The most common conditions presented to Acupuncturists are generally pain syndromes, such as neck and shoulder pain, back pain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder and various types of leg pain, however acupuncture can treat a wide array of  conditions that are not pain based.  For more information on what acupuncture can do for you, call 94781415 or text to 0410094602 to discuss your requirements.

What happens when I attend an acupuncture consultation ?

Your initial consultation will consist of completing a detailed questionnaire regarding your presenting health complaint and Once your initial consultation form is completed, which generally takes 5-10 minutes, I will ask you some additional questions regarding your answers and then treatment will begin. As previously mentioned I will start acupuncture treatment based on the personalised acupuncture points selected via the description of your specific health issue. During treatment the acupuncture needles are generally left in place for around 30 minutes. In addition to acupuncture your treatment may also involve if required. T.E.N.S, far infrared, cupping, remedial therapy techniques, Bowen therapy, MET, Moxa or musculoskeletal therapy, please note there is no extra charge for these therapies as I use them as a compliment to your acupuncture treatment for improved results.
Sometimes you will greatly benefit from certain herbal or supplemental natural medicines which I will discuss with you and should you decide to try them I can inform you of the best and most cost effective places for you to source them or alternatively I can supply a practitioner only product for you. Your initial consultation and treatment will take up to one and a half hours and follow up appointments are generally from 45 minutes to one hour.

Follow up appointments are scheduled 3 to-5 days (depending on the individual case) later to continue treatment and discuss your progress from the initial consult.
Generally, patients feel a benefit from acupuncture within the first treatment and continue to improve with treatments 2 and 3, however some patients can take a little longer to respond and some respond very quickly, such as after the first session.
For chronic health related conditions a series of acupuncture treatments are standard and this can vary from between 6 to12 appointments, acupuncture is known to have an accumulative effect, which means that each treatment builds on the next for continued improved and lasting results.

 

Q: Is acupuncture painful ?

The most common reason people avoid having acupuncture treatment is fear of pain from the acupuncture needles or just plain fear of needles.
Acupuncture needles are not the same as hypodermic needles used by Medical doctors for injections, acupuncture needles are very fine. At Acu-Care Naturopathics we use extremely fine sterilized presealed needles, which are virtually painless.
However, to the astonishment of those who have acupuncture, they find it relaxing and not painful at all. Consequently,  pain free doesn’t mean there is no sensation. Listed below are some of the most common sensations experienced during treatment:
  • A slight dull ache around the points being needled which is described as very mild and not painful and lasts only a minute or so.
  • A tingling sensation around the area being needled and is generally described as being pleasant.
  • An electrical type sensation that runs up or down the body part being treated and lasts only a few seconds, it is often described as a light jolt.
  • A warm sensation that surrounds the area being treated, this is generally described as being very relaxing.
All of the sensations listed above are mild and transient and do not cause pain and when you experience these sensations you are literally feeling acupuncture working. 

Q: Are you in safe hands when you have acupuncture treatment, by a registered acupuncturist ?

In a word, yes. In fact, in experienced and qualified hands acupuncture is one of the safest medical procedures available.
The results of two independent surveys published in a British Medical Journal in September of 2001 showed the risk of serious adverse reactions occurring from acupuncture treatment is less than 1 in 10,000.
Another survey in 2003 produced almost identical results. Occasionally you may experience mild bruising at an acupuncture point or mild dizziness or slight tiredness. However these are very transient symptoms and are short lived.
You are in safe hands when you choose acupuncture treatment from a qualified, registered and experienced acupuncturist.

 Q: What qualifications do acupuncturists have.

Registered acupuncturists have completed a four year degree or its equivalent in traditional clinical acupuncture including substantial elements of Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, biochemistry, pharmacology, counselling differential diagnosis, microbiology and more. Acupuncturists in many countries around the world must be registered with the local governments health department, including Australian acupuncturists must be registered and licensed with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) which is responsible for the registration of all health care practitioners, such as Doctors, physiotherapists, dentists and so on.

During the consultation.

Your acupuncturist will record all relevant details of your health condition and medical history before acupuncture treatment commences.  Occasionally, based on this information your acupuncturist may refer you to your GP for further medical treatments or investigations.

 During treatment.

Your acupuncturist uses pre-sterilized single use needles which are safely disposed of after your treatment and all treatments are carried out in line with professional standards which have been developed in conjunction with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) codes of safe practice and professional conduct and the Chinese Medicine registration Board of Australia (CMRBA) and in all cases have also been approved by local government authority environmental health officers and all acupuncturists have full medical insurance cover.


Q: Why choose Acu-Care Naturopathics ?

Paul Neilson is the therapist at Acu-Care and is a registered clinical acupuncturist, qualified naturopath, remedial therapist, Bowen therapist, myopractic therapist and homeopath.  This means that treatment at Acu-Care can comprise of multiple therapies for outstanding results at no additional cost.
1) Our treatment costs are competitive.
2) Our treatments are not rushed, typically your acupuncture treatment will take around 1 hour, compared to the standard of 30 minutes.
3) We are Belmont’s most popular acupuncture clinic with great patient reviews.
4) Acu-Care is located in  rivervale which is convenient for many central suburbs.
5) Additional therapies, such as: electro- acupuncture, cupping and various techniques from bodywork therapies are used to improve results at no extra charge.
6) When you book an acupuncture appointment with us, you are in experienced hands since 1998.
7) A multi modality approach to your presenting complaint can mean faster longer lasting results than would have otherwise been achieved using a single approach..
8) The clinic is open 6 days per week and after hours appointments are available for busy working people.


What Type Of Person Is A Typical Acupuncture Patient.

At Acu-Care we treat a wide array of patients of all ages, we have found however that 65% of our patients are female and 35% male, with age being from 25 to 70.
We have also found that the 25 to 55 age group tend to book acupuncture for either work or sporting related injuries which include shoulder and neck pain, lower back pain, sciatica, stress, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and migraine headaches.
The 55 plus age group tend to book acupuncture for most of the above mentioned conditions with the addition of insomnia, age related degenerative conditions, such as hip pain and knee pain and for general well being. Patients are often surprised at how quickly acupuncture can work to bring you back to a pain free life. Regardless of your medical diagnosis natural medicine and acupuncture will improve your health.


Q: I am seeing my doctor about various health issues, Should I tell him/her I am planning to have acupuncture ?

It is generally not necessary to inform your doctor that you are having acupuncture treatment. However, if you have recently had surgery or are being scheduled for surgery, or if you are currently taking several different types of medication, or are being treated for a current health issue by your GP, it may be a good idea to inform your doctor that you are planning to have acupuncture.  Successful acupuncture treatment can often result in the patient being able to reduce or completely stop taking their prescribed medication, (depending on the illness). This should never be done without first consulting your GP and should always be done with their guidance.


Q: How many acupuncture treatments will I need ?

This depends completely on your presenting complaint and whether it is acute or chronic. On odd occasions 1 or 2 acupuncture treatments may be all you need, however for more chronic conditions a series of acupuncture treatment sessions are generally required. This is normally 10-12 treatments to improve a chronic condition. However it is impossible to say how any individual will respond to treatment. Typically a chronic condition may require 2 to 3 appointments for 1 to 2 weeks in order to get your symptoms under control and then weekly appointments for a further month or possibly longer. Again depending on the severity of your complaint and how long you have had it.

Additional factors to take into account are:

  • your age
  • how long you have had the condition
  • whether you can avoid the activity that has caused your condition
  • whether your condition is acute or chronic
  • your general state of health
  • whether you follow instructions on diet, lifestyle, exercise regimes, taking supplements (if applicable) and keeping appointments
Your progress will be much faster if you follow the instructions given and keep your appointments.

 


     

Q: What type of needles are used for acupuncture treatment?

 Sterilized, ultra fine, single use, disposable needles are used in acupuncture practice, these needles are specifically designed for acupuncture. Acupuncture needles do not in any way resemble a hypodermic needle that may be used by your GP.
In fact with some of the finer gauge needles that are used in acupuncture treatment,  means the person receiving treatment usually doesn’t even feel the needle penetrate the skin, in fact after a few minutes the majority of patients forget the needles are even in place.

 

Q: What health problems  can acupuncture help with?

acupuncture services

Acupuncture perth,    Acupuncture treatment,    Acupuncture clinics,  Perth services

                       Acupuncture perth,                                 Acupuncturists Perth,        Clinics


When the majority of people think about making an appointment to see an acupuncturist they do so generally because of an injury they have sustained whilst doing their favourite sport, or perhaps by doing routine tasks at work, or just that old nagging pain you’ve had that seemed to develop out of nowhere and won’t go away.
However one of the most common questions that an acupuncturist is asked is “what can acupuncture treat”?
Firstly the acupuncturist will not make a distinction between you and your illness and would aim to improve your whole health, However, commonly back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, wrist, arm, leg, knee pain and headaches are the most common complaints that are regularly treated with acupuncture.

 Acupuncture is not limited to treating only pain syndromes. We also regularly treat many health conditions which include: hormonal issues such as: menopause and irregular and painful menstruation, digestive complaints of all types, including IBS and IBD, bell’s palsy, anxiety and a wide array of urinary issues are also ailments treated at Acu-Care Naturopathics.

As a natural form of healing, acupuncture has the following benefits:

  • Acupuncture is a holistic treatment: drug-free.
  • Acupuncture is a time honoured medical system that dates back at least 2000 years and is suitable for a wide array of health issues both acute and chronic that can be used to compliment your current medical treatment or as a suitable alternative to conventional medicine.
 

Regardless of your medically diagnosed condition acupuncture and natural medicine can improve your health.
If you would like to find out if acupuncture can help your health and wellbeing then call 9478-1415 or text to: 0410094602 or email us via our contact page to discuss your requirements. Alternatively give acupuncture a try and make an appointment today.

 Best of health

Paul Neilson L.Ac CMP. ND. DHM.


Acu-Care Naturopathics is central for the suburbs listed below.


Ascot. Ashfield. Bassendean. Bayswater. Beechboro. Belmont. Bentley. Burswood. Cannington. Carlisle. Como. Dianella. East Perth. Forrestfield. Guildford. Highgate. Highwycombe. Inglewood. Kalamunda. Kewdale.  Lathlain. Leederville. Lesmurdie. Maylands. Midland. Morley. Mt Lawley. Noranda. North Perth. Perth. Redcliffe. Rivervale. South Perth. St James. Subiaco. Welshpool. West Perth. Tuart Hill. Victoria park. vic park
Best of health

Paul Neilson. CMP. L.Ac. DHM. ND. RT

Acupuncture, Acupuncturist, Acupuncturists, Acupuncture service, Acupuncture services, Acupuncture clinic, Acupuncture clinics, Acupuncture treatment, Acupuncture Perth, Acupuncture treatment Perth, Acupuncturist Perth, Acupuncture clinic Perth, Acupuncture service Perth, Acupuncture services Perth, Acupuncture clinics Perth