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Understanding acupuncture and the role of an acupuncturist

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine and practice-based treatment. It helps treat various conditions in both Eastern and Western medicine. It is a centuries-old practice in which the practitioner inserts needles into specific points beneath your skin. These needles help stimulate specific body points. Acupuncture has both therapeutic and preventative purposes.

What kind of education and training do acupuncturists receive?

Acupuncturists, or professionals who practice acupuncture, are classified into two types. A licensed acupuncturist is a professional who has studied acupuncture and Eastern medicine. To qualify as a certified acupuncturist, a licensed physician must finish a training program equivalent to at least 200 hours and 100 hours of supervised experience. However, program and certification requirements may differ depending on the state in which you live.

What conditions can acupuncturists help treat?

Acupuncturists can help treat various types of health concerns. These include:

• Arthritis: Arthritis damages your joints. While it can affect any joint, it usually impacts your lower back, hands, wrists, knees, shoulders, feet, hips, and ankles. Its symptoms include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and skin discoloration. There are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common of which are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout.
• Migraines: A migraine is a severe headache. It causes pulsing, throbbing pain on one side of your head, which can worsen with bright lights, loud noises, strong odors, and physical activity. The most common categories of migraine are classic migraine (migraine with aura) and common migraine (migraine without aura).
• Hot flashes: Hot flashes are sudden flares of heat, sweating, and discomfort. Several factors can trigger them, such as smoking, caffeine consumption, hot weather, and stress. The length and severity of hot flashes vary from person to person.
• Myofascial pain: Myofascial pain syndrome affects muscles and the surrounding fascia (connective tissue). It is a chronic condition, and its symptoms include pain, muscle soreness, reduced range of motion, and trigger points (small bumps or knots in your muscle that cause pain).
• Overtraining syndrome: Overtraining syndrome occurs when you exercise too intensely or too often for long enough to start hurting your body. This condition has three stages: functional overtraining, sympathetic overtraining, and parasympathetic overtraining. Overtraining syndrome negatively affects your physical, mental, and emotional health. Its symptoms include muscle pain and stiffness, fatigue, high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, and mood changes.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS refers to a group of symptoms affecting your digestive system. It is a chronic condition, but it does not cause tissue damage in your gastrointestinal tract or increase your chances of serious illnesses like colon cancer. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and excess bloating.

How does an acupuncture treatment work?

Chinese medicine practitioners call the energy that flows through the body qi. They believe that qi disruptions cause energy imbalances in the body, leading to illness. Some forms of acupuncture use needles to stimulate acupuncture points (acupoints) throughout the body to rebalance qi. Along 14 major meridians, also known as energy-carrying channels, hundreds of acupoints are located throughout the body.

The needles stimulate the body's natural systems thus helping the body do the following:

• React to a disease or symptom
• Restore the body's balance
• Release endorphins, neurotransmitters, and chemicals that control nerve impulses

What are the different kinds of acupuncture?

Besides the traditional Chinese method, there are different kinds of acupuncture, each with distinct approaches, combining traditional and modern principles to address various health conditions:

Modern acupuncture:

• Applies principles of Western medicine.
• Uses needles to stimulate the body's systems.
• Often combines traditional acupuncture with Western medical practices.

Trigger point therapy acupuncture:

• Targets myofascial pain related to muscles and connective tissue.
• Addresses trigger points, which are tight, painful knots formed in stressed or injured muscles.
• Alleviates myofascial pain by using needles to release trigger points.

Auricular acupuncture:

• Involves stimulating specific areas of the ear.
• Acupuncturists insert needles into ear acupuncture points.
• Used for providing relief from chronic back pain and cancer pain.

Are dry needling and acupuncture the same?

Acupuncture and dry needling, despite both utilizing needles, differ significantly in their foundations and practitioners. Acupuncture, deeply rooted in Eastern medicine, is administered by licensed acupuncturists and extends its scope beyond musculoskeletal pain to address various body systems.

On the other hand, dry needling, grounded in Western medicine, is typically performed by healthcare providers, notably physical therapists, as part of a broader physical therapy strategy. While acupuncture embodies a holistic approach to health, dry needling uses a more targeted approach within the context of musculoskeletal treatments integrated into physical therapy sessions.

What happens during an acupuncture session?

Your acupuncturist will discuss your condition with you during your first appointment. They will examine your body for areas that may respond to acupuncture. Then, they will insert needles into various points on your skin throughout your body.

The needles are disposable, sterile, and as thin as human hair. Acupuncturists use needles ranging from a little over an inch to several inches. They may leave them in for a few minutes or up to 20 minutes.

What happens after an acupuncture session?

Consider arranging a ride home from your appointments, especially the first one, because acupuncture has a calming effect. If that isn't possible, take a five- to ten-minute break before driving. Your practitioner may advise you to rest for a day or two after each session.

How does acupuncture help women during pregnancy? Is it safe?

Pregnancy brings joy and excitement, but some women may experience pain, aches, or other discomforts. Some people prefer alternative medicine to treat back pain and morning sickness. Acupuncture can help in the case of infertility in both men and women. By enhancing sperm quality and ovary function and harmonizing the endocrine system/hormones, acupuncture can be a successful treatment option to restore patient fertility. Other potential pregnancy conditions that acupuncture can treat include:  

• Indigestion 
• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• Stress and depression
• Preeclampsia
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Pain in the neck and pelvis 
• Constipation and hemorrhoids
• Labor pain
• Preeclampsia
• Swelling 
• Cephalic version
• Labor induction
• Sciatica pain
• Breech positions 
• Pelvic discomfort 

The National Institutes of Health study states that acupuncture is safe for most pregnancies, and severe complications and reactions are uncommon. In some cases, there may be temporary swelling or pain. 

Nonetheless, needling at specific forbidden points remains a contentious issue. However, practitioners agree on LI4 (large intestine channel), LU7 (lung channel), SP6 (spleen channel), BL27-BL34 (sacral region), GB21 (gall bladder channel), and CV3-CV7 (lower abdomen). Two bladder channels, BL60 and BL67, are also prohibited points.

There may be minor risks for women and their babies. Such dangers include irritability, headache, fatigue, pain, nausea, dizziness, and sweating. Redness, pain, and infections can occur at insertion points.

Can acupuncture help relieve COVID-19-related symptoms?

Acupuncture has the potential to play an essential role in COVID-19 treatment and deserves to be promoted and used more widely. Acupuncture treatment of COVID-19 helps regulate the nervous system function, improve immunity, activate neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and suppress inflammatory stress. Acupuncture may benefit COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity. In such cases, visiting the best acupuncturist near you is advisable.

What is the effect of acupuncture on cancer patients?

As per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, cancer centers use acupuncture as a complementary, integrative treatment. Cancer treatment can involve acupuncture, conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Complications are extremely unlikely when acupuncturists follow proper procedures and use sterile needles.

Following are the effects of acupuncture on different symptoms of cancer and cancer-related treatments:

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting - A randomized trial report found that acupuncture before chemotherapy resulted in a higher complete response rate in preventing delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in 70 cancer patients. The National Cancer Institute supports acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
• Cancer-induced menopause - Acupuncture is an effective treatment for cancer-induced menopause. It is especially beneficial to people undergoing anti-cancer treatment or breast cancer. According to the "Effect of acupuncture on hot flushes and menopause symptoms in breast cancer- A systematic review and meta-analysis," acupuncture alleviated menopause in 13 randomly controlled trials involving 844 breast cancer patients.
• Pain - Acupuncture was beneficial in random controlled cancer and surgery pain trials, according to the National Cancer Institute. Acupuncture cannot replace pain medications but can help reduce their side effects.
• Depression and anxiety - Acupuncture may reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients. According to published studies, as mentioned in a review published on PubMed, it is safer and more acceptable than antidepressants and other pharmacological treatments.
• Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia- A randomized controlled trial published on PubMed found that patients with ovarian cancer had higher white blood cell counts. Hence, acupuncture may have a myeloprotective effect on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
• Sleep disturbance - Per a SAGE Publications study, breast cancer patients who received acupuncture saw considerable improvements in sleep characteristics, particularly in the time awake proportion following sleep onset and decreased sleep latency.

How often should one go for acupuncture treatment?

The severity of the condition and how the body responds to the treatment will dictate the frequency of the sessions. Typically, individuals have weekly appointments, although the frequency may vary based on the duration of the treatment's effects. Your acupuncturist will advise a suitable schedule for you. 

It's important to note that the full benefits of acupuncture may take time to be apparent after the initial sessions. If you pursue acupuncture, you should undergo at least five treatments to gauge its effectiveness. 

However, acupuncture is not a substitute for timely medical intervention but is often used in conjunction with other treatments. For instance, individuals with chronic pain may utilize acupuncture with medications, and those undergoing cancer treatment may incorporate acupuncture into their overall healthcare plan. While acupuncture may enhance well-being, continuing prescribed medications as directed is crucial.

How to find the best acupuncturists near you in Seattle?

The benefits of acupuncture may sometimes be difficult to quantify, although many people find it effective in treating many painful illnesses. You can find the top acupuncturists in Seattle quickly and easily with Zocdoc. Sign up for a free account, and select your condition, location, date, and insurance plan. Zocdoc will list acupuncturists based on your search criteria. 

Use the Zocdoc insurance detector if you're unsure about your insurance plan. If you do not see your plan listed, try taking a picture of your medical insurance card and uploading it. The website will automatically scan the image and show you your most likely plan. You can get in touch with Zocdoc’s service team if you face any problems uploading the picture. Check Zocdoc’s patient help center for more insurance-related queries. 

Zocdoc has individual profiles for all acupuncturists near you, including a brief introduction, education credentials, practice location, purpose for a visit, and, most significantly, patient reviews. Zocdoc adds genuine patient reviews. Reading these verified reviews is the most effective approach to identifying the best acupuncturist in Seattle. If you want to find female acupuncturists in Seattle, you can filter your results by gender.

You can also use Zocdoc to schedule video appointments before an in-person visit to understand your acupuncturist better. Look for a purple video icon on acupuncturists' profiles, or use the video appointment filter to narrow your options. Make real-time appointments with an acupuncturist who accepts your insurance plan in your area. 

Booking appointments with the best acupuncturists near you through Zocdoc is safe, quick, and free.

Acupuncturists in Seattle, Washington State

As the National Center for Biotechnology Information stated, most acupuncturists in Washington State have 3 or 4 years of academic acupuncture training, and 85% had further "postgraduate" training. Acupuncturists in Washington treated many ailments, including musculoskeletal issues, which accounted for 47% of all treatments. Acupuncturist visits in Washington State accounted for over 75% of all visits.

According to United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5% of people died in 2018 from nervous system and brain cancer, and 11% died from pancreatic cancer. Breast cancer claimed the lives of nearly 19.4% of females in the same year. In Washington State, approximately 12,664 people died from cancer in 2016, with 1297 committing suicide. In 2015, about 1,137 people committed suicide. Between 2015 and 2016, there was an increase in cases.

According to a research letter titled "Socioeconomic and Racial Inequities in Breast Cancer Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Washington State", there was a significant overall decline in breast cancer screening in women living in Washington State. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, approximately 2,724 had died due to chronic lower respiratory disease.

Sources

Healthline

Verywell Family

National Center for Biotechnology Information[1]

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PubMed[1]

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WebMD

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

National Cancer Institute

SAGE Journals

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]

JAMA Network

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

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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.