Lawrence Acupuncture Integrative Health Clinic

What is Acupuncture?

There are over 2000 acupoints on the human body - these are anatomical locations that when needled, influence blood circulation, nervous system function and organ function . The skilled practitioner, who has studied anatomy, physiology and Chinese Medical theory, will carefully choose a selection of points most specific for you and your condition, and insert thin, thread-like needles into the point. Our clinic only uses sterile, stainless steel, single-use needles. Patients often describe the sensation as a gentle "poke" or pinch, followed sometimes by a warm, dull, achy or itchy sensation. These sensations are considered a positive sign that the correct point location has been found and that the point has been activated. Many patients describe a profound sense of relaxation during and after treatment, in both their body and in their mind, and it's fairly common to fall asleep during treatment.

Electro-Acupuncture

One variation your practitioner may choose for your acupuncture treatment is the addition of "E-Stim" or electrical stimulation to the needles. This is where we connect electrodes to the needles to deliver a gentle current of electrical stimulation to be distributed more deeply to the tissues. This treatment is especially helpful for traumatic injury, muscle tension, muscle atrophy, radiculopathy, paralysis, and chronic pain. One can expect a mild, pulsing sensation during electro-acupuncture. If you experience any pain or discomfort, please tell your practitioner so they can adjust the stimulation and/or needles.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Yes. Acupuncture is recognized as a safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of health conditions. As stated by the World Health Organization, acupuncture when performed by a well-trained practitioner is safe, results in very few adverse reactions/side effects, and is an excellent non-toxic alternative to conventional therapies. Please let your acupuncturist know if you are pregnant or wanting to become pregnant as the choice of acupoints would need to be adjusted accordingly (see our Specialities - Fertility). Also inform us if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking any blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin or Coumadin.

Acupuncture is used by millions of Americans every year. Licensed acupuncturists are required to undergo extensive education, including detailed study of human anatomy and training in Clean Needle Technique.