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FAQ

 

What is acupuncture most effective for?

Since acupuncture is based on different principles than Western medicine, it is especially effective for pain and health problems that resist standard treatment. Those with stubborn back, neck and shoulder pain usually get immediate relief, as do patients suffering from stress, anxiety, insomnia, neuropathy and numbness, headaches, sports injuries and many more. People recovering from strokes will often see significant improvement in their affected limbs and reduction in spasticity. Acupuncture greatly enhances fertility. It is also very effective for morning sickness and other types of nausea. People with joint problems including carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ problems and arthritis will usually feel better after their first visit. The relief tends to be long-lasting, as acupuncture gets to the root of the problem and brings a deep level of healing.

 

What would my doctor say?

In the past few years, mainstream medicine has embraced acupuncture in a big way. At the forefront of this trend is the Harvard School of Medicine whose teaching hospital, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute,  now employs acupuncturists and routinely refers cancer patients for acupuncture to treat a host of ills. Here is an example of the many enthusiastic medical journal articles the Harvard School of Medicine has published on the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture.

 

Can just anyone practice acupuncture?

Only physicians and acupuncturists licensed by the State of Illinois may practice acupuncture in this state.

 

Do the needles hurt?

Actually, no! Modern acupuncture needles are as fine as a human hair and so skillfully engineered that most people don’t even feel them.

 

How does acupuncture work?

It is widely known that people use only a small percentage of their potential brainpower. By the same token, the body has enormous reserves of healing potential that go untapped. Acupuncture unleashes that healing power by freeing blocked chi circulation, and by directing it to specific areas of the body that need it.

What can I expect?
Most patients feel better after the first treatment, although usually a series of treatments are necessary for problems to resolve completely and improvements to hold long-term. My practice is designed to make acupuncture easily affordable for patients to get as many treatments as necessary.

What is “dry needling?”  How does it differ from acupuncture, and do you do it?
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture that releases trigger points – “micro-knots” in muscle that can cause referred pain in the surrounding area.  Trigger points were discovered by Dr. Janet Travell, who was John F. Kennedy’s personal physician.  There are many ways of releasing trigger points but dry needling is by far the most effective.  I am trained in dry needling, and often use it to resolve pain when called for.


IPHONE USERS: Please do not rely on your iPhone to navigate to our office; it will take you to 737 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Vernon Hills (instead of Libertyville), about ten minutes south of here. This does not seem to be a problem with Android devices.

Libertyville Acupuncture

737 N. Milwaukee Ave. Libertyville, IL 60048

847-796-0123In Liberty Square, behind Birdy’s Coffee House, next to the train station