A form of Eastern medicine practiced for thousands of years, acupuncture has been largely accepted by the Western world as an effective alternative method of healing and pain management. How successful this type of therapy is depends mainly on the expertise of the person who administers it, which is why when it comes to finding an acupuncture clinic Columbus OH clients need to make sure these essential criteria are met.
Traditional Chinese Medicine makes it a priority to find and treat pain and illness at its source, rather than just attend to the symptoms. Acupuncture, which belongs to this discipline is no exception. The main objective of this therapy is to bring the body's vital energy levels back into a state of balance and eliminate any blockages which can cause discomfort or sickness. This is achieved by the strategic insertion of long, fine needles into the body.
Although some patients may wish to try acupuncture on a more general level, most seek to find relief from a particular condition which is distressing them. The majority of acupuncturists can treat a host of disorders, but some of them will have spent additional years honing their technique to heal a specific condition or group of related issues. Patients seeking such expertise, need to keep this in mind when choosing a practitioner.
It's important to confirm that any prospective acupuncturist has the credentials required by the state before going under his or her care. In Ohio, practitioners need to possess a license to operate as a LAc, or licensed acupuncturist. This designation will only be issued by the state medical board to those who have completed the required minimum number of classroom and clinical hours. It is also necessary for them to be certified by the NCCAOM, a national regulatory organization for Oriental Medicine.
Besides Traditional Chinese acupuncture, there are also other styles, which differ in technique and in their results. The Korean style primarily uses the hands as insertion sites, and the Japanese style uses a finer needle and shallow depth of penetration. While no one is considered superior, some are better suited for the treatment of certain problems than others. Ear and scalp acupuncture are used for helping patients to lose weight, stop smoking, or recover from nerve disorders respectively.
The appropriate number of sessions can only accurately be determined once the acupuncturist has met the patient and obtained his or her medical history. Some patients will require more treatments than others depending on which condition they have and how quickly their bodies respond to the therapy. Once a week minimum is normal for most patients. Generally, acute conditions require more frequent sessions than those which are long-term.
If combining other forms of Chinese medicine with acupuncture is of interest to the patient, he or she should try to locate an acupuncturist who also offers these services. Pain relief techniques such as cupping and heat therapy may be carried out, or the acupuncturist may provide lifestyle counseling and food therapy as well. Herbal medicine is another area which may be practiced, that involves the prescription of potent herbal preparations for various ailments.
In most cases, insurance does not cover this type of alternative therapy, yet one should still check this with their provider first since there can be exceptions. It can however, usually be reimbursed under many flexible spending and health savings plans if an official receipt is presented.
Traditional Chinese Medicine makes it a priority to find and treat pain and illness at its source, rather than just attend to the symptoms. Acupuncture, which belongs to this discipline is no exception. The main objective of this therapy is to bring the body's vital energy levels back into a state of balance and eliminate any blockages which can cause discomfort or sickness. This is achieved by the strategic insertion of long, fine needles into the body.
Although some patients may wish to try acupuncture on a more general level, most seek to find relief from a particular condition which is distressing them. The majority of acupuncturists can treat a host of disorders, but some of them will have spent additional years honing their technique to heal a specific condition or group of related issues. Patients seeking such expertise, need to keep this in mind when choosing a practitioner.
It's important to confirm that any prospective acupuncturist has the credentials required by the state before going under his or her care. In Ohio, practitioners need to possess a license to operate as a LAc, or licensed acupuncturist. This designation will only be issued by the state medical board to those who have completed the required minimum number of classroom and clinical hours. It is also necessary for them to be certified by the NCCAOM, a national regulatory organization for Oriental Medicine.
Besides Traditional Chinese acupuncture, there are also other styles, which differ in technique and in their results. The Korean style primarily uses the hands as insertion sites, and the Japanese style uses a finer needle and shallow depth of penetration. While no one is considered superior, some are better suited for the treatment of certain problems than others. Ear and scalp acupuncture are used for helping patients to lose weight, stop smoking, or recover from nerve disorders respectively.
The appropriate number of sessions can only accurately be determined once the acupuncturist has met the patient and obtained his or her medical history. Some patients will require more treatments than others depending on which condition they have and how quickly their bodies respond to the therapy. Once a week minimum is normal for most patients. Generally, acute conditions require more frequent sessions than those which are long-term.
If combining other forms of Chinese medicine with acupuncture is of interest to the patient, he or she should try to locate an acupuncturist who also offers these services. Pain relief techniques such as cupping and heat therapy may be carried out, or the acupuncturist may provide lifestyle counseling and food therapy as well. Herbal medicine is another area which may be practiced, that involves the prescription of potent herbal preparations for various ailments.
In most cases, insurance does not cover this type of alternative therapy, yet one should still check this with their provider first since there can be exceptions. It can however, usually be reimbursed under many flexible spending and health savings plans if an official receipt is presented.
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