No question is stupid, but some are pretty funny
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine seems weird to a lot of people. I know that. I spent 35+ years in the Information Technology world, so I think logically and question everything. It was weird to me even as I sat in Acupuncture School for 4 years. So it probably doesn’t surprise you that I get a lot of interesting questions. I’ll try to answer some of my favorite and most common questions below.
Does Acupuncture work even if I don’t “believe” in it. I am Christian.
Nothing about an acupuncture treatment will change whether you are Christian or any other religion. This is a medicine rooted in thousands of years of history and has been scientifically proven over and over again. It is not based on any religion and it works on animals, so no you don’t have to “believe”. I would never try to push any religion or set of beliefs on anyone, and I typically don’t discuss religion or politics in my clinic, so please feel free to skip them too.
My friend calls her acupuncturist The Voodoo Lady. Does this bother you?
Nope, I’ve been called worse! I know she’s just kidding. We don’t do spells or potions, and while I do stick needles in people and use herbal medicines, it’s far from voodoo (see above – well researched, proven). I know this stuff can seem weird, so I get all the jokes. I’ll just laugh along with you and may even beat you to the punch line!
How do you clean the needles?
We don’t. Acupuncturists are required to follow “Clean Needle Technique” standards, which means we must use sterile, single-use needles. Before HIV, needles were “cleaned” in an autoclave, but nobody bothers with that any longer. We just put them in the sharps container and dispose of them. No way am I cleaning them! Your safety and health are my priority.
How long did you have to go to school to learn this?
There is a misconception that acupuncturists are trained similar to massage therapists with about a year of training. In reality, we’re trained a lot like doctors. We must have an undergraduate degree and then complete a three-to-four year master’s degree, which includes class and clinical training … something like 3,000 hours. That’s just to get our degrees. Then there is taking board exams to become licensed like most other medical professionals. We also are required to take continued training each year to keep our license current.
As acupuncture gains recognition and acceptance, many use it as primary health care and we are often people’s first stop for any issue. We are trained in western diagnosis as well as the Chinese Medicine side so that we know how to handle the variety of issues we see, and so that we know when to refer out to other health care professionals.
Can you believe that it was my doctor that suggested I try acupuncture?
Yes, I sure can believe that. Please refer to the question above about the medicine being very old, heavily researched, and proven. Western medical doctors are becoming more open to it as they review the research. I get referrals from neurologists, chiropractors, fertility specialists and everything in between. And some are even my patients!
Do I have to take my clothes off when I come for treatments?
Not usually. The most used acupuncture points are on the legs and arms, so I just need to have access to those areas (no skinny jeans please!). If you are having shoulder issues, I’ll need to access your shoulders, so women wear a tank top and men can remove their shirt. If I need to get to your stomach or low back just untuck your shirt… No disrobing required. Now if you come in a jumpsuit with skinny legs and long sleeves…. well I have a gown you can wear.
As they say…
There are no stupid questions, and I’m not offended if you ask. If you’re thinking it, somebody else probably is too. Ask whatever questions you want so you feel comfortable using acupuncture to help what ails you. And when it works for you, be sure to tell your friends that acupuncture is not voodoo, and you don’t have to believe in it. Just let them know it worked for you and it might work for them too.