(208) 377-1455
6003 Overland Rd, Suite 203, Boise, Idaho
Frequently Asked Questions
How many treatments will I need and how often?
How long does an acupuncture session last?
How many needles are used in a typical treatment?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Can I receive acupuncture treatment in conjunction with other therapies?
What training have the acupuncturists at Acupuncture West, LLC received?
Does health insurance pay for acupuncture?
How does acupuncture work?
Are acupuncture needles reused?
How should a patient prepare for a treatment?
How many treatments will I need and how often?
The number of treatments required depends upon a few factors: how severe the condition is, how long-standing the condition is, and the underlying health of the patient. As a rule, more treatments are required for severe conditions, for chronic conditions, and for patients in poor health. Thus, it is difficult to say in general how many treatments a patient may need. Nonetheless, a typical course of treatment for most painful conditions is about 6 - 12 treatments, at a frequency of about 1 - 2 treatments per week.
How many treatments will I need and how often?
How long does an acupuncture session last?
How many needles are used in a typical treatment?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Can I receive acupuncture treatment in conjunction with other therapies?
What training have the acupuncturists at Acupuncture West, LLC received?
Does health insurance pay for acupuncture?
How does acupuncture work?
Are acupuncture needles reused?
How should a patient prepare for a treatment?
How many treatments will I need and how often?
The number of treatments required depends upon a few factors: how severe the condition is, how long-standing the condition is, and the underlying health of the patient. As a rule, more treatments are required for severe conditions, for chronic conditions, and for patients in poor health. Thus, it is difficult to say in general how many treatments a patient may need. Nonetheless, a typical course of treatment for most painful conditions is about 6 - 12 treatments, at a frequency of about 1 - 2 treatments per week.
How long does an acupuncture session last?
An initial treatment will take longer than a follow up treatment. During the initial treatment the practitioner will conduct a thorough medical intake and evaluation before administering treatment. Initial treatments take approximately 90 minutes. Follow up treatments are shorter, usually about 50 minutes.
An initial treatment will take longer than a follow up treatment. During the initial treatment the practitioner will conduct a thorough medical intake and evaluation before administering treatment. Initial treatments take approximately 90 minutes. Follow up treatments are shorter, usually about 50 minutes.
How many needles are used in a typical treatment?The number of needles varies depending upon the condition being treated, the patient’s underlying health, and the style of acupuncture employed. On average, about ten to twelve needles are used in a typical acupuncture treatment and the needles are usually retained for about 20 - 30 minutes.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most patients report virtually no sensation at all when acupuncture needles are inserted or stimulated. Others report different sensations including mild pressure, dull achiness, or slight warmth in the local area. By and large, the majority of patients are pleasantly surprised to learn that acupuncture is a very comfortable and relaxing experience. The acupuncture needles used at Acupuncture West, LLC are 0.16mm in diameter, significantly smaller than a typical hypodermic needle.
Most patients report virtually no sensation at all when acupuncture needles are inserted or stimulated. Others report different sensations including mild pressure, dull achiness, or slight warmth in the local area. By and large, the majority of patients are pleasantly surprised to learn that acupuncture is a very comfortable and relaxing experience. The acupuncture needles used at Acupuncture West, LLC are 0.16mm in diameter, significantly smaller than a typical hypodermic needle.
Can I receive acupuncture treatment in conjunction with other therapies?
Yes, acupuncture can be useful either as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other therapies, including conventional medical treatment. It is important that you tell your health care practitioner(s) about any treatments or therapies you are considering or may already be receiving, as this information can be helpful in assessing the safety and effectiveness of an entire treatment plan.
Yes, acupuncture can be useful either as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other therapies, including conventional medical treatment. It is important that you tell your health care practitioner(s) about any treatments or therapies you are considering or may already be receiving, as this information can be helpful in assessing the safety and effectiveness of an entire treatment plan.
What training have the acupuncturists at Acupuncture West, LLC received?
All acupuncturists at Acupuncture West, LLC are licensed by the State of
All acupuncturists at Acupuncture West, LLC are licensed by the State of
Does health insurance pay for acupuncture?
More and more insurance companies are offering partial or full coverage for acupuncture services. However, in order to be sure that you get the correct answer to this question, we recommend that you contact your insurance carrier to determine if your specific health insurance policy reimburses for acupuncture services. Presently, Medicare does not reimburse for acupuncture services. If your policy provides coverage for services at our clinic, we will provide appropriate receipts for all services rendered. You are expected to pay for services on the day that care is given.
More and more insurance companies are offering partial or full coverage for acupuncture services. However, in order to be sure that you get the correct answer to this question, we recommend that you contact your insurance carrier to determine if your specific health insurance policy reimburses for acupuncture services. Presently, Medicare does not reimburse for acupuncture services. If your policy provides coverage for services at our clinic, we will provide appropriate receipts for all services rendered. You are expected to pay for services on the day that care is given.
How does acupuncture work?
There are two very different viewpoints from which this question may be answered, the traditional Chinese perspective and the modern scientific perspective. First, let’s look at the traditional Chinese viewpoint.
Traditional Chinese medical theory is based upon the fact that there is an energy that runs through the human body through certain pathways, or channels. The energy flowing through these pathways can become blocked or obstructed due to emotional stress, unhealthy lifestyle choices, harmful environmental factors, poor diet, or physical injury. When this energy becomes blocked, the result is pain, discomfort, or disease. With acupuncture needles, the obstructions are cleared, allowing the energy to flow freely and returning the patient to a state of balance.
There are many completed and ongoing research studies aimed at determining how acupuncture works from a modern scientific perspective. In these studies acupuncture has been shown to trigger the brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, chemicals with pain relieving properties. Other theories propose that acupuncture needles jam the neuronal pathways and thereby prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. Additional studies have shown that acupuncture needle insertion activates the brain’s regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones, which in turn regulates many primary systems in the body, including the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Current research is aimed at understanding exactly how this happens, as well as understanding why certain acupuncture points may be effective for specific medical conditions.
There are two very different viewpoints from which this question may be answered, the traditional Chinese perspective and the modern scientific perspective. First, let’s look at the traditional Chinese viewpoint.
Traditional Chinese medical theory is based upon the fact that there is an energy that runs through the human body through certain pathways, or channels. The energy flowing through these pathways can become blocked or obstructed due to emotional stress, unhealthy lifestyle choices, harmful environmental factors, poor diet, or physical injury. When this energy becomes blocked, the result is pain, discomfort, or disease. With acupuncture needles, the obstructions are cleared, allowing the energy to flow freely and returning the patient to a state of balance.There are many completed and ongoing research studies aimed at determining how acupuncture works from a modern scientific perspective. In these studies acupuncture has been shown to trigger the brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, chemicals with pain relieving properties. Other theories propose that acupuncture needles jam the neuronal pathways and thereby prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. Additional studies have shown that acupuncture needle insertion activates the brain’s regulation of neurotransmitters and hormones, which in turn regulates many primary systems in the body, including the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Current research is aimed at understanding exactly how this happens, as well as understanding why certain acupuncture points may be effective for specific medical conditions.
Are acupuncture needles reused?
No, absolutely not. All acupuncture needles at Acupuncture West, LLC are sterile, disposable needles. That is, they are disposed of after a single use. They are never reused under any circumstances.
No, absolutely not. All acupuncture needles at Acupuncture West, LLC are sterile, disposable needles. That is, they are disposed of after a single use. They are never reused under any circumstances.
How should a patient prepare for a treatment?
We recommend that a patient arrive for treatment in loose, comfortable clothing. Since visual inspection of the tongue is an important diagnostic evaluator, it is important that a patient not eat or drink anything that will discolor the tongue prior to an acupuncture appointment. We further recommend that a patient not eat large meals just before or after treatment.
We recommend that a patient arrive for treatment in loose, comfortable clothing. Since visual inspection of the tongue is an important diagnostic evaluator, it is important that a patient not eat or drink anything that will discolor the tongue prior to an acupuncture appointment. We further recommend that a patient not eat large meals just before or after treatment.