Average time it takes to be seen by a provider
Verified providers with a 4.8 average rating
In the business of finding quality care for patients
On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for an Acupuncturist in Philadelphia, book an appointment, and see the Acupuncturist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Acupuncturists in Philadelphia who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Philadelphia Acupuncturist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Acupuncturists in Philadelphia and book appointments instantly. You can search for Philadelphia Acupuncturists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Philadelphia Acupuncturists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Acupuncturists in Philadelphia who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Philadelphia Acupuncturists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Acupuncturists in Philadelphia who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Acupuncturists in Philadelphia on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Acupuncturists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Acupuncturists in Philadelphia who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Acupuncturist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Acupuncturists in Philadelphia. Many Acupuncturists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical therapy used for over 2,000 years. It involves a wide range of therapeutic methods, not just needles. Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea have developed acupuncture techniques.
Acupuncture involves inserting skinny needles through the skin at strategic places on the body. An essential element of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is beneficial for managing pain and overall wellness, including stress control.
When acupuncture needles are put in, most patients feel minimal discomfort. After the therapy, patients generally report feeling energetic or calm. However, transient pain from the needles is to be expected. Due to the implantation of needles, you may experience tingling or a dull aching, but you should not feel any severe pain. Notify your doctor immediately if this occurs.
Certified acupuncturists are health professionals who have completed acupuncture training. Their newly acquired skill of penetrating the skin with fine needles treats many medical issues. They reposition the needles or stimulate them with electrical currents to begin healing.
Acupuncturists find space in two categories: those with a license in acupuncture and those without. At least 200 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of clinical practice are required for certification as an accredited acupuncturist by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Programs and credentials, on the other hand, differ from state to state.
Since acupuncture is a master's degree program, interested students must first earn a bachelor's degree in a related discipline, such as massage therapy, yoga, or public health. The second step requires individuals to register in an accredited acupuncture school for a master's or doctorate after graduation. Then, they must study traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture for three to five years.
The majority of jurisdictions require acupuncturists to be licensed by the state. Acupuncturists in the US must be certified by the National Certification Commission to practice acupuncture and oriental medicine. The NCCAOM exam is commonly required to practice acupuncture and naturopathy in the United States. Doctors of Oriental Medicine (DOMs) and acupuncturists (Acupuncture Physicians) are licensed in the United States. Acupuncturists in most areas are known as "Licensed Acupuncturists" (LAc).
Below are some of the common ailments that are curable by acupuncture:
Acupuncture, as a holistic therapy, is a valuable option for individuals seeking help with mental health issues. To determine if integrating acupuncture into your mental health treatment plan is a suitable choice, explore the advantages of this complementary technique to make an informed decision.
Acupuncture has demonstrated its effectiveness as a valuable tool in treating various mental health issues. Its benefits extend to the enhancement of overall well-being and stress reduction, making it a valuable resource for individuals grappling with a wide range of mental health conditions. Essentially, acupuncture optimizes bodily functions by triggering the release of endorphins, regulating hormone levels, and improving blood circulation.
In the mental health arena, acupuncture has garnered particular attention for its positive impact on individuals diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders. Given its influence on the body's nervous system, acupuncture holds significant appeal for those living with these conditions, as it has the potential to alleviate the severity of symptoms and promote a heightened sense of overall mental well-being.
Acupuncture plays a valuable role in the mental health community as it can be utilized as a standalone treatment or with various other therapeutic approaches. It offers individuals the flexibility to benefit from its advantages in different ways:
Ultimately, how to reap the benefits of acupuncture treatment depends on individual preferences, the nature and intensity of the mental health condition, and the recommendations of a practicing acupuncturist near you. The versatility of acupuncture allows it to address mental health concerns in a personalized and holistic manner.
Despite the myriad advantages of acupuncture, it is only suitable for some. Here is a list of people who should avoid a visit to an acupuncturist:
Acupuncturists use a variety of tools in addition to needles. Stimulation also occurs with heat, pressure, friction, or electromagnetic pulses.
In addition to these, acupuncturists use the following methods to help patients with their ailments:
Moxibustion
The acupuncturist also burns moxa, a cone-shaped stick made of mugwort leaves, to relieve tension and pain.
Cupping
Moving blood and breaking up connective tissue by utilizing glass cups as suction on the skin.
Gua sha
Rubbing the skin with a rough or abrasive object stimulates blood flow and discharges heat.
Electroacupuncture
Moving qi and contracting muscles can be done by applying electricity to needles.
Ion pumping:
Using one-way, electron-moving cables for osmotic concentrations in tissues.
In recent years, acupuncture has been increasingly used as a treatment for pain management. There are many potential benefits of acupuncture for pain management, including:
Moreover, there can always be risks associated with any medical treatment, including acupuncture. The most common risk of acupuncture is experiencing pain at the needle insertion site. Other risks may include dizziness, fainting, bruising, or feeling nauseous. More severe but rarer risks may include infections, organ punctures, and broken needles. Consult a licensed and professional acupuncturist before starting any new treatment plan.
Acupuncture techniques for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes vary significantly, reflecting the different approaches found in Western medicine. Each technique is tailored to address specific symptoms of diabetes. For instance, certain acupuncture methods focus on weight loss, metabolism improvement, organ function enhancement, and nerve pain alleviation. One well-studied technique for diabetic neuropathy is the wrist-ankle treatment, which involves deep stimulation of nerves in these areas.
Acupuncture can help reduce pain for diabetes patients. Diabetes is related to the endocrine system, where hormones regulate sugar levels. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, hormones that induce positive feelings and block pain. This mechanism may alleviate the discomfort often associated with diabetes.
Additionally, acupuncture might help regulate sugar levels by affecting cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress. Practitioners believe that acupuncture triggers hormone reactions that balance the body's sugar regulation. This approach is advantageous because it avoids the harmful side effects that some pharmaceutical treatments can cause.
Although acupuncture is generally safe, there are some risks and limitations. A 2017 review found no serious side effects from acupuncture for diabetes. Typical side effects include soreness, minor bleeding, and bruising at needle sites. It is essential to ensure all needles are removed before leaving the session. Acupuncture is not recommended for pregnant women, those with blood diseases like hepatitis or HIV, or those with bleeding conditions such as hemophilia or vitamin K deficiency.
Acupuncture offers various benefits for diabetes management. It can reduce pain, support weight loss, improve metabolism, enhance organ function, and regulate sugar levels. Its potential to stimulate beneficial hormones without adverse side effects makes it a valuable complementary treatment for diabetes.
An acupuncture session usually lasts for about 30 minutes. During this time, the acupuncturist will insert needles into specific points on your body. You may feel discomfort when the needle pricks your skin. Some people feel relaxed during treatment, while others feel tingling.
After the needles get inserted, the acupuncturist will leave the room for a few minutes to allow you to rest. During this time, you can concentrate on deep breathing and relaxation. After a few minutes, the acupuncturist will return to remove the needles.
Acupuncture is safe when administered by a skilled and certified practitioner. You may experience bruising or soreness at the point where the needles get inserted. These side effects are often mild and short-lived.
The number of acupuncture sessions you will need depends on many factors, including the intensity of your pain, the cause of your pain, and your response to acupuncture. Most people benefit from six to eight or eight to twelve acupuncture treatments. However, depending on their circumstances, some people may need more or fewer treatments.
Visiting an acupuncturist can be a new and unique experience for many. To ensure your experience is positive, you must choose the best acupuncturist in your area. This can be a task, but Zocdoc is here to simplify it.
It takes just a website or a mobile app to make an informed decision about your medical practitioner. On Zocdoc, you can search for the best acupuncturists in your radius from an extensive database, including their detailed bio. You can also refine the search by gender and language spoken by the provider.
In addition, Zocdoc offers consumers the ability to select from some of the highest-rated doctors and medical professionals that fit perfectly into their insurance plan. Choosing the insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down box will list all the doctors that meet your search criteria and the available appointment times.
If you prefer not to share your insurance information with your provider, you have options on Zocdoc. When booking an appointment, you'll be asked to provide your insurance details or confirm that you'll pay out of pocket. Some providers require insurance information to schedule an appointment. If you don't have insurance or choose not to use it, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc who accommodates your preference. For more insurance-related questions, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
You can use the verified patient ratings and reviews to help you choose an acupuncturist near you that fits all your requirements. Booking appointments on Zocdoc is simple, secure, and completely free!
As of 2015, about 14 million Americans had tried acupuncture as a treatment. It is estimated that in 1992, 5,460 licensed acupuncturists practiced across the US There were 28,761 acupuncturists in 2009, 34,481 by 2015, and 37,886 active licensed acupuncturists in the United States on January 1, 2018.
Acupuncture is rarely utilized in place of conventional medical treatments. Still, it is often used with the latter, especially in treating and managing pain caused by arthritis or other musculoskeletal diseases. In Pennsylvania, as reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (2021), arthritis is among the top five most prevalent chronic diseases, with almost 2.8 million people affected.
Pacific College of Health and Science
Delray Center for Integrative Medicine
Pennsylvania Department of Health
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.