FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This section will help answer the common questions that people have about our services.  If you don’t find your specific question here, or don’t find the answer that completely satisfies your question, don’t hesitate to call us, e-mail us, or ask us during your appointment.  We enjoy and encourage open discussion with all of our patients.  As well, we have a number of free brochures available that explain more about our services, the conditions we treat, and how it all works.

ACUPUNCTURE
How should I prepare for a treatment?
I heard that acupuncture only works as a placebo.  What if I don’t believe in acupuncture?
How does acupuncture work from a traditional point of view?
How does acupuncture work from a modern, scientific point of view?
What are meridians/channels?
How many treatments will I need?
Are the needles reused?
What are the differences between a NC Licensed Acupuncturist and Chiropractors, Naturopathic Physicians, Osteopathic Physicians, and Medical Doctors that practice acupuncture?

How should I prepare for a treatment?
Please try to wear or bring comfortable clothing to your treatment.  This will allow our practitioners to be able to access the acupuncture points with ease, and it will help you to feel relaxed.  Please try to avoid eating a heavy meal or skipping a meal before coming to your appointment.

I heard that acupuncture only works as a placebo.  What if I don’t believe in acupuncture?
The idea that acupuncture only works as a placebo is one of the biggest misconceptions about acupuncture.  You are not required to believe in acupuncture for it to work.  Studies have shown acupuncture to be very effective in treating a number of conditions in humans, as well as animals such as horses, dogs, and cats.  Animals are incapable of actually “believing” in acupuncture, yet it still works very well for them.  Testing for an acupuncture placebo in humans is much more challenging.  However, there have been studies conducted at major universities that have concluded that acupuncture acts as more than just a placebo.  For more on this subject, please review the following articles:
Acupuncture 'more than a placebo' 
New Studies Confirm Acupuncture Relieves Pain  
University of Vermont Study First to Confirm Acupuncture's Effect 

How does acupuncture work from a “traditional” point of view?
Traditionally, acupuncture works by balancing the subtle energies of the body.  The concept of Qi (pronounced chee) is essential to understanding how acupuncture works.  The closest English language translation for the word Qi is “life energy.”  When the Qi in our body is in balance, we feel healthy and strong.  When Qi is not flowing properly, or when it becomes blocked, many different signs & symptoms of disease may arise.  These can include pain, a weakened immune system, emotional difficulties, infertility, and ill health.  Acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points on the body to restore the normal flow of the body’s Qi.  Once the body is in a balanced state, it can heal itself more efficiently.

How does acupuncture work from a modern, scientific point of view?
The Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center appreciates and values modern science, however modern science is still struggling to completely understand how acupuncture works.  Scientific studies have shown certain acupuncture points to have effects on the nervous system, releasing neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing inflammation, and increasing the circulation of blood and body fluids.  However, there are gaps in the modern theories that explain how acupuncture can do all of these things.  We believe that these gaps will be filled by further research and with the advancement of technology.  In the meantime, we combine traditional theories with modern scientific theories to explain how acupuncture works.  Please see the Articles and Research section of our Links page for more information.  

What are meridians (channels)?
Acupuncture points are not randomly located on the body.  A majority of them lie on what are traditionally known as meridians or channels.  These meridians are traditionally viewed as pathways of Qi (energy) in the body.  Just like the nervous and vascular systems, they connect different parts of the body with one another.  In this way, meridians help explain how placing a needle in one point on the body can influence an area on a different part of the body.  For example, there are points in the hands and feet that are commonly used to treat headaches.

How many treatments will I need?
Overall, most patients begin to notice changes within the first 3-5 acupuncture treatments and significant improvements within 6-12 treatments.  With acupuncture, the effectiveness of each treatment typically builds upon the previous one.  Depending on the nature of the health concern and the individual response, a patient may require anywhere from six to twenty-five treatments or more to achieve the goal of the treatment plan.  Acute conditions tend to resolve more quickly with an intensive series of treatements.  Whereas, chronic conditions may require a longer and more consistent series of treatments.  The number of required treatments will also be determined the severity and cause of the health concern.  Once significant changes have been made, maintenance treatments may or may not be required.  Depending on the particular condition and the patient's age, this may result in a treatment every one to three months to prevent a relapse of symptoms.

At the Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center, our practitioners will check your progress throughout your treatment plan.   We will strive to provide you with an accurate prognosis and refer you to another healthcare practitioner, if we are unable to help you.

How much does acupuncture cost? 
We are always clear and upfront with our financial policies, and our fee schedule is published on our website: Fees & Insurance 

Are the needles reused?
No, absolutely not.  We will never reuse a needle.  The Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center only uses FDA-approved, single-use needles that have been sterilized by the manufacturer prior to packaging.  After your treatment, the needles are disposed of in a “Sharps” medical waste disposal container.  Furthermore, all of our acupuncturists are nationally certified in Clean Needle Technique by the CCAOM (Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).  This is the only national organization that certifies practitioners in Clean Needle Technique for acupuncture.  Clean Needle Technique is the standard way in which acupuncture is practiced in order to keep patients and practitioners safe.  You can always expect to receive the highest level of care available each time you visit the Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center.

What are the differences between a NC Licensed Acupuncturist and Chiropractors, Naturopathic Physicians, Osteopathic Physicians, and Medical Doctors that practice acupuncture?
The difference is usually in the amount and focus of acupuncture training that the practitioner has completed.  Licensed acupuncturists are required to complete a program of training that is highly specialized in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.  To become a NC Licensed Acupuncturist, the North Carolina Licensing Board (NCALB) requires the completion of at least a 3 year postgraduate program in acupuncture that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).  Additionally, NC Licensed Acupuncturists must pass the national acupuncture exams administered by the National Certification Commission in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). 

Each acupuncturist at the Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center has completed more than 3,000 hours of postgraduate training (Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine) that has included over 1,000 hours of clinical experience.  About 80% of that training focused on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and 20% was devoted to Western sciences.  Moreover, our acupuncturists have passed the national NCCAOM exams in acupuncture, Oriental medical theory, Chinese herbal medicine, and biomedicine.  They also completed hospital internships in China and received training in traditional Japanese acupuncture.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are their areas of expertise.

The acupuncture training of most Doctors of Chiropractic, Doctors of Naturopathy, Doctors of Osteopathy, and Medical Doctors is often very basic.  It typically consists of less than 200 hours of instruction, and these practitioners generally use acupuncture only as an adjunct to their usual expertise.  You should always feel free to ask your practitioner about the extensiveness of their acupuncture training.  For more information on this subject, please see Know Your Acupuncturist.