Most acupuncturists are not trained to read x-rays or other tests. The written report by your medical doctor on the findings of the x-ray or other tests would definitely be helpful to the acupuncturist.

The Texas Legislature makes the laws concerning medical practices including Acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

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.

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.

There are currently three acupuncture schools located in Texas, two in Austin (AOMA and TCTCM) and one in Houston (ACAOM). In 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.

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.

No, only a medical doctor can prescribe medication.

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 and is generally covered by insurance. Most other problems are treatable with acupuncture during pregnancy.

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.

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.

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 person’s genetic structure.

There are 361 acupuncture points on the classical meridians and hundreds of additional acupuncture points. More points are being discovered each year.

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.

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.

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 32 to 40 gauge needles. A 40 gauge needle is a little thicker than a human hair. Acupuncturists are trained to use the appropriate needle for the treatment.

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.

Most acupuncturists use needles that come in a pre-sterilized pack and are one time use disposable needles.

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.

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 because acupuncture is not available in all 50 States.