Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of training does an acupuncturist need?

Acupuncturist are governed by a National board and state laws. The board requires at least a Master’s degree to become certified as well as passing of 3 to 4 national board exams. Each state has a different regulation for licensure. Your acupuncturist has board certification as well as licensure in both Idaho and Washington.

How many treatments will I need?

Again, this depends on your condition and how long it has persisted. But most treatment plans include 6 treatments at least once/week to start. In these first 6 treatments you will begin to notice changes and you can re-evaluate with your acupuncturist how many and how often from there. Chronic conditions often take longer to notice long-lasting relief.

Will I feel a difference after the first treatment?

Some patients feel immediate relief after their first treatment while others may need a few to start to feel progress. This oftentimes depends on the condition and whether it is chronic (has been going on for a long time) or acute (recent injury or flare-up). As a general rule of thumb, I ask patients to give acupuncture between 3 and 5 treatments for noticeable change to occur.

What should I wear?

All of the treatment tables have fresh sheets and blankets for all patients, so you will always be covered. With that in mind, patients sometimes choose to wear loose fitting clothing that can be easily lifted to expose arms and legs. You will be asked to remove clothing that is too tight or cumbersome for your comfort during the treatment.

How far do the needles penetrate?

The needles always penetrate the skin, but the depth and angle of the needle depends on the acupuncture point and the tissue underneath of it. Some points are very shallow while others can be needled deep into the muscle belly. Your acupuncturist knows what lies under every point and will avoid anything that could cause pain or discomfort (such as nerves, vessels and bone).

Does acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture should not hurt. We use very fine needles to quickly penetrate the skin in a gentle way. While you shouldn’t feel pain during a treatment, you may feel other sensations from the needles such as dullness, achiness, warmth, cold – but if you feel sharp, lingering pain you should inform your acupuncturist.