3 FAQs About Acupuncture

We are welcoming a new service to Root to Rise and know you may be curious about acupuncture, so let’s answer these 3 common questions: What does it feel like? What conditions does it treat? What training does an acupuncturist have?

1. What does it feel like?

This can be tough to answer! You may feel lots of different sensations, and every person is a little different. To help you understand what I mean, think for a minute about how you may answer the following question:

‘What does exercise feel like?’ 

Tough, right? That is because body sensations during exercise are complex and subtle. You may feel your muscles twitch a bit, a sensation of tightness before your muscles warm up, a rush of warmth as blood flows smoothly, or a strong sensation when your muscles activate. Plus, the type of exercise - say weight lifting vs. yoga - can result in really different sensations.

This is true for an acupuncture treatment as well. How your body responds is pretty individualized.

What I often say to patients on their first treatment is that they are likely to feel a pinch when the needle first goes in, and then a wide variety of sensations could follow like light tingling, warmth, a slight muscle twitch, or pulsing. The sensations at different areas of the body can vary, so some needles may have very small or no sensation while others may talk to you a little more. In general, the needles will be manipulated and adjusted to your comfort level. This isn’t a ‘no pain, no gain’ treatment and your acupuncturist will take your body sensations into account. If something feels too strong, they may adjust or remove a needle. The total number of points can also be adapted based on your response.

Because every person is unique we work to find what works best for you, creating a fluid treatment plan that can shift depending on what you need that day based on your feedback and other clues that the acupuncturist will take into account like your health history and the feel of your pulse at each appointment. 

2. What conditions does it treat?

There isn’t a comprehensive list of conditions that acupuncture treats but the World Health Organization’s 2002 recommendation to use acupuncture for 43 common conditions is a starting point. The list includes low back pain, sciatica, headaches and migraines, stiff neck, tennis elbow, trigeminal neuralgia, dizziness, anxiety, diarrhea, constipation, depression, stress management, and more. 

You can find the complete list here on page 4-5 of the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification guide. 

Keep in mind 2002 was a long time ago and a lot of research on acupuncture has been done since then so if you don’t see your diagnosis that doesn’t mean that acupuncture won’t be a good fit. Most patients also come in with more than one issue, for example, neck pain, headaches, and TMJ may present together and can all be addressed in your acupuncture treatment plan.

We know acupuncture is a great complement to physical therapy and are so excited to be able to combine efforts at Root to Rise to tackle some of the common presentations for reproductive health including irregular menses, painful periods, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), menopausal symptoms, urinary incontinence, morning sickness, fertility support and more. 

3. What training does an acupuncturist have?

This depends a bit on what the state you live in requires and what certifications your acupuncturist holds. Since we are in Maine, let’s look at what the state legislature requires to obtain a license, per their website. 

•  A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, a license from the State to practice as a registered professional nurse or successful completion of the training program and any competency examination required by the Board of Licensure in Medicine to be qualified as a physician's assistant;  
•  A minimum of 1,000 hours of classroom instruction in acupuncture and related subjects at an institution approved by the board;  
•  A minimum of 300 hours of clinical experience in the field of acupuncture; and  
• Certification by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists and Oriental Medicine, or its successor or other organization approved by the board, or passage of a written examination approved by the board.”

Most acupuncturists obtain a master’s degree in acupuncture through 3-4 years of study, including treating patients in supervised clinical settings for 2 years, in order to get the clinical hours and knowledge they need to pass the national boards and obtain a license in Maine. 

As a consumer you should be sure that you are being treated by a licensed acupuncturist, often indicated by Lic. Ac. or Licensed Acupuncturist after their name. Your provider may have other indicator letters too and you should feel comfortable asking what they mean. For example, my title also includes MAOM, Master’s of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which means my degree is also in herbal medicine allowing me to prescribe internal medicine to patients in addition to acupuncture.

I also typically tell patients that I am a Diplomate of the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). This means I am certified by the national board, requiring more hours of continuing education than the state license alone.This helps patients understand that my professional learning is ongoing and that I am motivated to keep my practice current.

Have unanswered questions? Reach out directly at carole@roottorisephysicaltherapy.com and I will be happy to connect!

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