In general, no! We use sterile, disposable needles as fine as a strand of hair. Our needles are nothing like those used for shots or injections: much shorter, thinner, and no drugs/ medication within. Once the needles are in, you may feel a variety of sensations like a dull ache, tingling, warmth, or a feeling of heaviness — there are considered positive signs that the healing is starting. 

Acupuncture works by stimulating our bodies to release neurotransmitters (natural painkillers such as enkephalins, endorphins, etc) and hormones (FSH, LH, etc).

On the pain side, these natural chemicals can help reduce inflammation and our perception on pain.

On the fertility side, many of these hormone changes are actually measurable. We typically ask patients to bring in any previous hormone lab tests that they have done (or we can help write a new order for you). After a few weeks of acupuncture and herbs, if/ when they get new lab tests, we oftentimes see changes in FSH, LH, estradiol, and progesterone. These are signs that the body is starting to rebalance itself, restoring it to its natural homeostasis.

The fact that acupuncture stimulates the release of various neurotransmitters and hormones, our body’s internal messengers, explains how it is able to treat our bodies holistically. By doing so, it helps our body restore a balance within our sympathetic (“fight-or-flight”) and parasympathetic (“feed-and-breed” or “rest-and-digest”) nervous system.

When our bodies perceive stress, the sympathetic system is activated to protect us. Historically this has served us will — it saved us from getting eaten by lions or other dangerous situations. When the sympathetic system is activated, our body is geared to fight the lion or run away. Blood flow is diverted from non-essential processes to life-saving ones. (When you’re running from a lion, your body’s not trying to digest your lunch. It’s trying to pump your heart fast enough to get out of there ASAP.) Makes sense right? Historically that has served us well. Well, until modern life. Everyday stressors, such as stuck in traffic while running late to a job interview, are not long life-threatening, but our bodies still put us in this sympathetic state. Overtime, this can deprive our non-essential processes, our immune, digestive, and reproductive systems, the optimal blood flow it needs. Not enough good resources are coming in while metabolic waste is building up. Hence we see a rise in issues related to these systems. Acupuncture can ‘reset’ this sympathetic and parasympathetic imbalance. That is why a lot of patients fall asleep during treatment and feel refreshed afterwards.

Since everyone is different and it depends on your case, we work with you to develop a customized treatment plan. In general, we recommend more frequent treatments in the initial phases to build momentum to get the problem under control and then tapering it down to a maintenance level until the body is balanced. 

Our bodies possess remarkable healing abilities, and acupuncture and herbs can do wonders to support that healing ability. However, acupuncture and herbs do have limitations and we want you to have realistic expectations. 

The main limitations are (1) unable to reverse advanced or severe structural changes and (2) reduce effectiveness due to repeated aggravation.

(1) Advanced/ severe structural changes — In cases where there are advanced structural changes such as in severe arthritis, vertebral disc degeneration, or tumors, we cannot reverse that structural damage. We can help you manage the pain or other symptoms. But, it’s important to have realistic expectations that the pain may come-and-go, since we cannot restore your joint to how it was prior to the structural changes nor stimulate your body to break up the tumor. In such cases, we will work with you and your specialists (e.g., rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, and oncologist) to help you manage the pain and symptoms.

(2) Repeated aggravation — Here’s a silly but effective analogy: let’s say someone punches a wall every day and develops hand pain. We can help relieve some of the pain, but unless that person stops punching a wall, that pain will likely persist. 

We would like nothing more to take away your pain or other symptoms, but we want to set realistic expectations to set you up for success.