acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture treatments in the United States have usually been provided to patients lying on treatment tables, either clothed or in loose gowns, in individual rooms. Community Acupuncture Berea offers individual sessions in two comfortable treatment rooms with padded tables.

In Asia , acupuncture treatments are customarily offered in group settings. In February 2007, Community Acupuncture Berea joined others in the Community Acupuncture Network, an organization of clinics across the in the movement to make acupuncture more affordable and accessible by offering group treatments.

In the Community Acupuncture Berea group clinic, four to five patients at a time relax on comfortable recliners in a large room. Patients wear clothing that allows easy access to their arms and lower legs, and they remove only their socks and shoes for treatment. The acupuncturist circulates among the patients, inserting, stimulating and then removing needles.

Both individual and community treatments usually take place with a background of soft and soothing music.  The treatment session provides an opportunity to let go of stress and even to nap. Everyone present contributes to the stillness and calm in the community room, and many individuals find acupuncture treatments in a group setting particularly supportive and healing.

your experience with acupuncture

For most acupuncture treatments, patients rest comfortably while needles are inserted in various body points. With Japanese acupuncture and with the distal balance approach, very thin needles are most often inserted in the hands, forearms, feet, and legs. Another common treatment involves placing a series of needles in the back muscles on each side of the spine.  Often treatments include the insertion of some needles in the ears.  Once in place, needles may be stimulated by twirling, by heating or by using electricity.  Other techniques involve the use of pressure, suction, and a scraping form of massage.

An initial acupuncture treatment may include only four to eight needles, while later treatments may involve more. Generally needles are left in place between ten minutes and an hour.

People experience acupuncture differently. Most individuals feel no or minimal discomfort as the needles are inserted. When the needles are stimulated by twisting, heat, or electricity, people usually report more sensation, but generally it is not painful or unpleasant.  Most patients experience relaxation during treatments.

Following treatment, some people are energized, while others feel relaxed. With some treatments, an immediate improvement in pain or another symptom may be evident, while in other cases changes become apparent after a series of treatments. Following the Guidelines given for self-care after a treatment may increase the benefit from any acupuncture session.

NOTE: "Guidelines" is a pdf document that requires free software from Adobe. Obtain the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free by clicking the following icon. It's always good to have the latest version, not just for this application but because many web pages will direct you to pdf documents.

You may choose to download Guidelines as a Microsoft Word document.

Learn more about acupuncture