In general, Acupuncture is a painless experience. An acupuncture needle is significantly thinner than a hypodermic needle. The patient may experience the following: no sensation at all, a pinch, itchiness or some aching. Ultimately, you are likely to experience a sense of calm and many people fall asleep. It is important to know that anxiety around needles does not mean sensitivity to needles!

The acupuncture needles are ultra thin, usually 32 to 40 gauge, making the sensation of the needle entering your skin light or nonexistent. Getting acupuncture is very different from getting a shot or having blood drawn (hypodermic needles). In fact, roughly 30 acupuncture needles can fit inside the barrel of a hypodermic needle.

Acupuncture can, and often is used in conjunction with western medical treatment. It does not negatively interfere with other forms of medicine. It is important, however, to tell your practitioner what other forms of treatment you are receiving.

Absolutely not. Infants, unconscious people and even animals are all successfully treated with acupuncture.  Many medical practitioners, regardless of their field, tend to agree that it does help if the patient’s mind and psyche are engaged in the process of getting better, but this is an accessory to the medicine, not the medicine.

Your practitioner will take a complete health history before your evaluation. The evaluation will include feeling your pulse, noting color and condition of the tongue and feeling for tender acupoint. After an established evaluation, you will be treated and advised on follow up care. The initial treatment may last about 1.5 hours, and all subsequent treatments are approximately 1-1.5 hours. 

Hundreds of clinical studies have shown acupuncture’s effectiveness on a wide range of symptoms and illnesses from musculoskeletal pain, to anxiety, depression, headaches, insomnia, and many more. The World Health Organization, in 2003, recommended acupuncture for over 100 conditions based on evidence from case-controlled studies where therapeutic effect has been proven and shown. Since then, thousands of more studies on acupuncture have been performed demonstrating its effectiveness. The amazing folks who run the website, www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org, continue to gather all this info to share with the acupuncture community. I recommend you check it out!

The frequency and number of acupuncture treatments varies depending on an individual’s unique needs. As a general rule, acute conditions (i.e. common cold, recently sprained ankle, or recent digestive issue) require more frequent appointments for a shorter period of time, such as 2 visits a week for 2 weeks. While chronic conditions often require less frequent visits over a longer period of time, such as once per week for 8-10 weeks. Similar to exercise and healthy eating habits, consistency is key for achieving lasting progress and optimal health.

Do NOT skip your acupuncture treatment because you have a cold or the flu. Acupuncture and associated modalities can be effective in providing your immune system a boost to eliminate the virus and limit the duration of your illness.Unless you cannot get to the clinic safely, keep your appointment, wear a mask and let's knock out that cold!

Everyone can be treated with acupuncture! Infants to elderly can be treated with acupuncture. All types of conditions can be treated whether chronic or acute, severe or mild, mental or physical. Pregnant women are prime candidates for acupuncture and much can be done to promote both ante-natal and postnatal care of mother and baby.

Under the guidance of a licensed Chinese herbalist with proficient training, taking herbs can be very safe. Trying Chinese herbs that are not prescribed to you may lead to a variety of side effects, some which can be dangerous. We at DelCollo Acupuncture only carry herbs that meet the highest international standards for safety and cleanliness.

Yes! Children respond very well and quickly to acupuncture. Pediatric acupuncture and herbs are used to treat a variety of conditions including behavior problems, immune system conditions, growing aches and pains, digestion issues, asthma, allergies and bedwetting.

Results vary from person to person because there are many factors that contribute to treatment outcomes. Some factors include: how long you have  had the condition, the severity  and your home and work lifestyle. Many people notice immediate improvement while others take longer. Typically, we recommend 4-10 treatments for most conditions. This allows you to experience  what acupuncture and herbal medicine can do for you. In many cases, the condition that you came in for will be resolved or greatly improved in that time. But as a general rule, significant and lasting improvements are noticed after repeated treatments. Acupuncture is meant to be a practice that you incorporate into your regular health and wellness routine to support your constitution and prevent future imbalances. 

Dry needling is putting needles into trigger points specific to injury. Acupuncture calls these areas "ashi" and have been treating these points for centuries. However, according to acupuncture practice, treating these points alone is considered basic or rudementary. Needling away from the site of injury rebalances the constitution, typically leading to more lasting and significant results. It is believed that the skill and subtlety of an acupuncturist to create overall harmony in the body and mind while alleviating symptoms is one of the purest and most advanced methods of treatment and healing.