Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. Who makes the laws concerning Acupuncture?
A. The Texas Legislature makes the laws concerning medical practices
including Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Q. Who administers or regulates Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
in the State of Texas?
A. The Texas Legislature mandated that the Texas State Board of
Acupuncture Examiners, which is a subset of the Texas
State Board of Medical Examiners, is the licensing body for
Acupuncturists. The members of the Acupuncture Board are composed
of acupuncturists, medical doctors and public citizens. The Governor
appoints these positions.
Q. What training is required to practice acupuncture?
A. Acupuncturists are required to do extensive training over approximately
three to four years at an approved school or college accredited
by the Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine,
and to pass comprehensive National Examinations administered by
the National
Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Individuals licensed by the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners
are fully qualified to practice all modalities within Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine.
Q. Where can one go to get training in Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine?
A. There are currently three acupuncture schools located in Texas,
two in Austin and one in Houston. Total there are approximately
forty schools located throughout the United States. A list of these
schools can be found at the Council
of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine web site.
Q. What are the needles made of?
A. In ancient China the first needles were made of flint. Later
on, bamboo and fish bones were also used as needles. It was once
believed that gold and silver needles were of benefit and were used
with the nobility. Today most needles are made of surgical stainless
steel and come in sterile packs as one time use disposable needles.
Q. How long and thick are the needles?
A. The needles vary from one half inch in length to over two inches
in length. The longer needles are used in the more fleshy parts
of the body. The half inch needles are usually used for areas on
the body where there is little or no body fat. The needles are usually
30 to 38 gauge needles. A 38 guage needle is a little thicker than
a human hair. Acupuncturists are trained to use the appropriate
needle for the treatment.
Q. Are the needles sterile?
A. Most acupuncturists use needles that come in a pre-sterilized
pack and are one time use disposable needles.
Q. How deep are the needles inserted?
A. Each acupuncture point has it's own unique depth. Part of an
acupuncturist's comprehensive training is knowing the depth of insertion
for each acupuncture point. There is little or no correlation between
the depth of insertion and whether or not the insertion is painful.
Q. Is acupuncture painful?
A. This is the first question most people ask. The majority of people
who have had acupuncture indicate it is not what they expected.
They found their experience to be favorable and they would definitely
recommend it. Most patients feel no undue discomfort. The majority
of patients indicate that it is very relaxing, similar to the relaxing
affect of a good massage. Part of the extensive training is learning
how to insert needles without causing pain or discomfort.
Q. Is acupuncture safe?
A. When acupuncture is done by a fully trained acupuncturist licensed
by the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners it is very safe
and should not be a concern to the patient.
Q. Should I bring x-rays?
A. Most acupuncturists are not trained to read x-rays or other tests.
The written report by your medical doctor on the findings of the
xray or other tests would definitely be helpful to the acupuncturist.
Q. Can an acupuncturist prescribe medication?
A. No, only a medical doctor can prescribe medication.
Q. How does acupuncture work?
A. There is no all inclusive definitive Western explanation of how
acupuncture works. It is known that acupuncture releases endorphins
in the brain chemically structured similar to morphine. Other research
seems to indicate that acupuncture is responsible for activating
responses from the body to the brain. There is no one good explanation
as to how it works. The Eastern explanation is very complex. In
general, acupuncture treats the body as a whole. It does not separate
the mind, body, soul or psychic into separate parts. It assumes
that there is a connection between each part of the body. What affects
one part of the body may also affect another part of the body. In
general the acupuncturist balances internal energy so that the body
functions as a whole and returns to a normal condition for that
body given that persons genetic structure.
Q. How many acupuncture points are there?
A. There are 361 acupuncture points on the classical meridians and
hundreds of additional acupuncture points. More points are being
discovered each year.
Q. Are there different types of acupuncture?
A. Acupuncture was first discovered in China over three thousand
years ago. It was later spread to the neighboring countries of Japan
and Korea. Later in the 17th century it was taken to Europe by the
Jesuit priests and merchants who traded with China. Basically there
is Chinese, Korean and Japanese acupuncture with numerous subsets
of each. It is not the type of acupuncture that is as important
as the competency and knowledge of the acupuncturist. Someone trained
in Chinese acupuncture may choose a set of acupuncture points that
would be different from someone trained in Korean or Japanese acupuncture.
Q. How many treatments do I need?
A. There is no set number of treatments. It varies depending on
the problem and how the body responds to the treatment. Chronic
problems or any problems the patient has had for a long time generally
take more treatments than acute problems or problems of short duration.
Acupuncture has a cumulative effect and treatments done in close
proximity of each other may be more appropriate for certain problems.
Q. I am pregnant. Can I have acupuncture?
A. When a woman is pregnant there are some acupuncture points that
should be avoided. It is obvious that points on the abdomen would
not be used. A common complaint that women have during pregnancy
is morning sickness, which can be treated with acupuncture. Most
other problems are treatable with acupuncture during pregnancy.
Q. Do I need to see my medical doctor or need a prescription or
referral for acupuncture?
A. Your medical doctor is an integral part of your overall healthcare.
It is not necessary to get a referral or a prescription for acupuncture.
However, many acupuncturists work very closely with physicians and
chiropractors. A medical report or findings by the doctor often
help pinpoint the problem.
Q. Will insurance pay for acupuncture?
A. Some insurance companies will pay for acupuncture, but you will need to check with your own provider to be sure. At this time, Medicare does
not pay for acupuncture.
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