Frequently asked questions
Back or Neck Pain
In a 2018 review, data from 12 studies (8,003 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than no treatment for back or neck pain, and data from 10 studies (1,963 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture. The difference between acupuncture and no treatment was greater than the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. The pain-relieving effect of acupuncture was comparable to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
A 2017 clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians included acupuncture among the nondrug options recommended as first-line treatment for chronic low-back pain. Acupuncture is also one of the treatment options recommended for acute low-back pain. The evidence favoring acupuncture for acute low-back pain was judged to be of low quality, and the evidence for chronic low-back pain was judged to be of moderate quality.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Osteoarthritis
In a 2018 review, data from 10 studies (2,413 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than no treatment for osteoarthritis pain, and data from 9 studies (2,376 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture. The difference between acupuncture and no treatment was greater than the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Most of the participants in these studies had knee osteoarthritis, but some had hip osteoarthritis. The pain-relieving effect of acupuncture was comparable to that of NSAIDs.
A 2018 review evaluated 6 studies (413 participants) of acupuncture for hip osteoarthritis. Two of the studies compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture and found little or no difference between them in terms of effects on pain. The other four studies compared acupuncture with a variety of other treatments and could not easily be compared with one another. However, one of the trials indicated that the addition of acupuncture to routine care by a physician may improve pain and function in patients with hip osteoarthritis.
A 2019 clinical practice guideline from the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation conditionally recommends acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or hand. The guideline states that the greatest number of studies showing benefits have been for knee osteoarthritis.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on osteoarthritis.
Headache and Migraine
A 2020 review of nine studies that compared acupuncture with various drugs for preventing migraine found that acupuncture was slightly more effective, and study participants who received acupuncture were much less likely than those receiving drugs to drop out of studies because of side effects.
There’s moderate-quality evidence that acupuncture may reduce the frequency of migraines (from a 2016 evaluation of 22 studies with almost 5,000 people). The evidence from these studies also suggests that acupuncture may be better than sham acupuncture, but the difference is small. There is moderate- to low-quality evidence that acupuncture may reduce the frequency of tension headaches (from a 2016 evaluation of 12 studies with about 2,350 people).
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on headache.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome is a common form of pain derived from muscles and their related connective tissue (fascia). It involves tender nodules called “trigger points.” Pressing on these nodules reproduces the patient’s pattern of pain.
A combined analysis of a small number of studies of acupuncture for myofascial pain syndrome showed that acupuncture applied to trigger points had a favorable effect on pain intensity (5 studies, 215 participants), but acupuncture applied to traditional acupuncture points did not (4 studies, 80 participants).
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Sciatica
Sciatica involves pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg, usually on one side of the body, caused by damage to or pressure on the sciatic nerve—a nerve that starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg.
Two 2015 evaluations of the evidence, one including 12 studies with 1,842 total participants and the other including 11 studies with 962 total participants, concluded that acupuncture may be helpful for sciatica pain, but the quality of the research is not good enough to allow definite conclusions to be reached.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Postoperative Pain
A 2016 evaluation of 11 studies of pain after surgery (with a total of 682 participants) found that patients treated with acupuncture or related techniques 1 day after surgery had less pain and used less opioid pain medicine after the operation.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Cancer Pain
A 2016 review of 20 studies (1,639 participants) indicated that acupuncture was not more effective in relieving cancer pain than conventional drug therapy. However, there was some evidence that acupuncture plus drug therapy might be better than drug therapy alone.
A group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors has been shown to be of value in treating hormone-sensitive breast cancer, but the drugs can cause joint pain and stiffness, and patients sometimes stop taking them because of these side effects. Acupuncture has been studied to see whether it is helpful for this type of pain.
A 2017 review of 5 studies (181 participants) of acupuncture for aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain in breast cancer patients concluded that 6 to 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment may help reduce the pain. However, the individual studies only included small numbers of women and used a variety of acupuncture techniques and measurement methods, so they were difficult to compare.
A larger 2018 study included 226 women with early-stage breast cancer who were taking aromatase inhibitors. The study found that the women who received 6 weeks of acupuncture treatment, given twice each week, reported less joint pain than the participants who received sham or no acupuncture.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition in men that involves inflammation of or near the prostate gland; its cause is uncertain.
A review of 3 studies (204 total participants) suggested that acupuncture may reduce prostatitis symptoms, compared with a sham procedure. Because follow-up of the study participants was relatively brief and the numbers of studies and participants were small, a definite conclusion cannot be reached about acupuncture’s effects.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Fibromyalgia
A 2019 review of 12 studies (824 participants) of people with fibromyalgia indicated that acupuncture was significantly better than sham acupuncture for relieving pain, but the evidence was of low-to-moderate quality.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on fibromyalgia.
Seasonal Allergies (Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever)
A 2015 evaluation of 13 studies of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, involving a total of 2,365 participants, found evidence that acupuncture may help relieve nasal symptoms. The study participants who received acupuncture also had lower medication scores (meaning that they used less medication to treat their symptoms) and lower blood levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of antibody associated with allergies.
A 2014 clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery included acupuncture among the options health care providers may offer to patients with allergic rhinitis.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on seasonal allergies.
Urinary Incontinence
Stress incontinence is a bladder control problem in which movement—coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity—puts pressure on the bladder and causes urine to leak.
In a 2017 study of about 500 women with stress incontinence, participants who received electroacupuncture treatment (18 sessions over 6 weeks) had reduced urine leakage, with about two-thirds of the women having a decrease in leakage of 50 percent or more. This was a rigorous study that met current standards for avoiding bias.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Treatment-Related Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients
Experts generally agree that acupuncture is helpful for treatment-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, but this conclusion is based primarily on research conducted before current guidelines for treating these symptoms were adopted. It’s uncertain whether acupuncture is beneficial when used in combination with current standard treatments for nausea and vomiting.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on cancer.
Asthma
In a study conducted in Germany in 2017, 357 participants receiving routine asthma care were randomly assigned to receive or not receive acupuncture, and an additional 1,088 people who received acupuncture for asthma were also studied. Adding acupuncture to routine care was associated with better quality of life compared to routine care alone.
A review of 9 earlier studies (777 participants) showed that adding acupuncture to conventional asthma treatment improved symptoms but not lung function.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on asthma.
Depression
A 2018 review of 64 studies (7,104 participants) of acupuncture for depression indicated that acupuncture may result in a moderate reduction in the severity of depression when compared with treatment as usual or no treatment. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because most of the studies were of low or very low quality.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on depression.
Quitting Smoking
In recommendations on smoking cessation treatment issued in 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of experts that makes evidence-based recommendations about disease prevention, did not make a recommendation about the use of acupuncture as a stop-smoking treatment because only limited evidence was available. This decision was based on a 2014 review of 9 studies (1,892 participants) that looked at the effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation results for 6 months or more and found no significant benefit. Some studies included in that review showed evidence of a possible small benefit of acupuncture on quitting smoking for shorter periods of time.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on quitting smoking.
Infertility
A 2021 review evaluated 6 studies (2,507 participants) that compared the effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on the success of in vitro fertilization as a treatment for infertility. No difference was found between the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups in rates of pregnancy or live birth.
A 2020 review evaluated 12 studies (1,088 participants) on the use of acupuncture to improve sperm quality in men who had low sperm numbers and low sperm motility. The reviewers concluded that the evidence was inadequate for firm conclusions to be drawn because of the varied design of the studies and the poor quality of some of them.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A 2018 review of 12 studies with 869 participants concluded that acupuncture and laser acupuncture (a treatment that uses lasers instead of needles) may have little or no effect on carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in comparison with sham acupuncture. It’s uncertain how the effects of acupuncture compare with those of other treatments for this condition.
In a 2017 study not included in the review described above, 80 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: (1) electroacupuncture to the more affected hand; (2) electroacupuncture at “distal” body sites, near the ankle opposite to the more affected hand; and (3) local sham electroacupuncture using nonpenetrating placebo needles. All three interventions reduced symptom severity, but local and distal acupuncture were better than sham acupuncture at producing desirable changes in the wrist and the brain.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on low-back pain.
Hot Flashes Associated With Menopause
A 2018 review of studies of acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause (hot flashes and related symptoms such as night sweats) analyzed combined evidence from an earlier review of 15 studies (1,127 participants) and 4 newer studies (696 additional participants). The analysis showed that acupuncture was better than no acupuncture at reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms. However, acupuncture was not shown to be better than sham acupuncture.
For more information, see the NCCIH webpage on menopause.
What is Acupuncture?
From an anatomy, neurology, and biochemistry standpoint: acupuncture is a traditional Chinese Medicine holistic treatment that addresses a variety of health conditions. It involves stimulating certain acupoints by inserting super thin needles into the body. Acupoints are located in areas of the body that are abundant in nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels, densely distributed nerve endings and receptors, mast cells, and highly concentrated neural and neuroactive components. Acupuncture may stimulate nerve fibers, release the body’s natural painkillers (endorphins, enkephalins, etc.), release neurotransmitters, influence the autonomic nervous system, promote relaxation and reduce stress. One theory is that acupuncture points and channels/meridians can be seen as a representation of the body’s interstitial connective tissue network. A research study found high levels of correspondence between acupuncture points and the location of intermuscular/intramuscular connective tissue planes in the body.
From a Chinese Medicine standpoint: There are energy channels in the body. When the energy channel is blocked, illness and pain ensues. Acupuncture is the medical practice of unblocking the channel(s) so that the body may return to a healthy state. Acupuncture is highly effective and can help with numerous acute and chronic health conditions.
How does Acupuncture work?
There are many scientific research studies and articles observing the physiological health benefits of acupuncture treatments on the body. Here are the main physiological theories on how acupuncture works:
Neurotransmitter Release Theory: Acupuncture may stimulate the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins (Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers) to help reduce pain and promote a sense of wellness.
Modulation of Inflammation Theory: Some research studies suggest that acupuncture may have anti-inflammatory effects where acupuncture reduces inflammation in the body by modulating (regulating) immune responses.
Blood Flow Improvement Theory: Inserting acupuncture needles may promote local microcirculation by increasing blood flow to specific areas, which can contribute to tissue healing and repair.
Nervous System Modulation Theory: Acupuncture may module (regulate) the autonomic nervous system which in turn may contribute to stress reduction and relaxation.
Does Acupuncture hurt?
We understand that the quality of needles matter. Therefore, we use the highest quality state of the art needles made in the world. Crafted with incredible precision and designed for maximum patient comfort and safety, our needles are the gold standard in acupuncture needle technology. Most people don’t feel anything when the needles are put in. Some people may feel a slight pinch. All our acupuncture needles are extremely thin, about 30x smaller than the needles you are used to at hospitals/blood draws. The acupuncture needles are almost the width of a strand of hair. They are sterilized and have a fine tip for maximum patient comfort. Patients usually feel very relaxed and comfortable during and after needling.
Is Acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique used for many thousand years and is considered one of the safest medical treatments. Rigorous measures are taken to guarantee your safety: all acupuncture needles are sterilized, individually packaged, and disposable. Licensed acupuncturists have extensive training and are regulated strictly by state medical boards. Acupuncture has minimal risk of side effects. In very few cases, there might be a small, temporary bruise at the needle insertion area.
What health conditions is acupuncture good for?
Acupuncture can treat a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions. Its benefits extend beyond addressing just physical symptoms, acupuncture also provides mental and emotional support. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends acupuncture for these diseases, symptoms or conditions, because acupuncture has been ‘prove[d] – through controlled trials – to be an effective treatment’:
Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Biliary colic
Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
Dysentery, acute bacillary
Dysmenorrhoea, primary
Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
Headache
Hypertension, essential
Hypotension, primary
Induction of labour
Knee pain
Leukopenia
Low back pain
Malposition of fetus, correction of
Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting
Neck pain
Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
Periarthritis of shoulder
Postoperative pain
Renal colic
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Stroke
Tennis elbow
How does acupuncture work for pain?
Scientific research indicates that acupuncture induces the release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain relievers). Additionally, it has been observed to diminish the body’s inflammation, enhance circulation, and alleviate pain. Furthermore, acupuncture induces relaxation in the central nervous system (CNS), which mitigates the body’s fight or flight response (sympathetic nervous system) and facilitates the transition of the body into the rest and digest stage (parasympathetic nervous system response). This may offer a sense of calm, potentially benefiting individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Recent research also suggests that acupuncture may provide relief for musculoskeletal conditions by affecting connective tissues, nerve bundles, muscles, and fascia.
How do you prepare for a treatment session?
Wear loose-fitting clothes for easy access to acupuncture points.
Eat a light to moderate meal 1-2 hours before the session. Avoid overeating (buffet style) beforehand.
Avoid consuming caffeine/stimulants a few hours before appointment.
Prepare a list of medications (include name, reason for taking, dose, frequency, and how long have you been taking it), supplements/vitamins, health concerns, and full name & phone # of your primary care provider.
Have adequate water intake.
What happens during and after an acupuncture treatment?
Most people experience deep relaxation during treatment.
Your first appointment will include going over your medical history and assessing your health. Acupoints are selected based on your health needs and constitution. The acupuncture needles are sterile, disposable and about as thin as a strand of human hair. Tiny acupuncture needles are tapped in (most people don’t feel anything; some people just feel a slight pinch). Treatment length of time is determined by each individual person’s body and health needs.
What happens after an acupuncture treatment?
How often do I need to come in?
Acupuncture benefits are cumulative, needing multiple treatment sessions for the body to get the momentum it needs and have noticeable health effects. For acute conditions, it’s much quicker. For chronic conditions, it will take awhile for your body to get the momentum it needs from consistent acupuncture treatment to get to where it needs to go. It’s like trying to move a car that isn’t working from a standstill position. First the car needs to be pushed. After the car gets momentum, it will be able to move on its own.
Do you accept insurance?
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) can be used to pay for acupuncture treatments as long as your physician recommends it with a written prescription. To receive a written prescription from your medical provider, you can discuss with them about wanting to receive acupuncture treatments for a specific medical illness. The prescription must include what condition you are wanting treatment for, how many sessions per month, and how many months for treatment. You could pay for your acupuncture sessions directly with the card/check associated with your health spending account. These HSA and FSA payment options help make acupuncture treatments more accessible.
Superbill option: We do not bill insurance at this time. If your insurance plan covers acupuncture, we will provide you with an itemized receipt with the health codes (called a “superbill”) at the end of your treatments. After paying for your treatments at our office, you can submit the superbill to your insurance provider and request for the insurance company to reimburse you directly. It is the patient’s responsibility to know the extent of their insurance coverage for different acupuncture services. Depending on what your insurance plan is, you may receive partial reimbursement. Please note that being reimbursed the full fee for all acupuncture services rendered is quite rare as many services may not be covered by insurance.
What are the accepted forms of payment?
Credit Card, Debit Card, HSA/FSA cards, cash, cashier’s checks or personal checks are accepted. Payment is collected at the time of service. If you are having financial difficulties, please reach out and let me know via email at DrLeeAcuSuccess@gmail.com. I will make accommodations and work with you. I would much rather you get the acupuncture treatments you need for your health needs.
What is the rescheduling and cancellation of appointment policy?
We kindly request any cancellations/rescheduling of appointments be made 48 hours in advance in order for us to accommodate another patient in your appointment time. This enables us to quickly place patients who need health care to see a physician when there is a time that opens up on the schedule. Dr Lee AcuSuccess Office reserves the right to charge a $50 fee to patients who miss an appointment, procedure and/or scheduled acupuncture/other therapy. Fees for missed appointments are the responsibility of the patient. Failure to pay any fees may result in the patient’s account being transferred to an outside collection agency. Please contact the office when you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment to avoid any fees. Under emergent conditions, the cancellation/reschedule fee within 48 hours would be waived. We understand there may be times when circumstances beyond your control arise and you must miss an appointment; therefore, we highly recommend contacting the office if you cannot make your scheduled appointment, or as soon as possible after you miss an appointment. Patients who consistently fail to show for 2 scheduled appointments may be terminated from receiving care from the office.
Please note that while our office makes every effort to accommodate requested appointment times, circumstances may exist where this request may not be met. Sometimes, there may be a large volume of patients scheduled at the time; however, after triaging your healthcare needs, we will provide you with an appointment in the appropriate time period, or present you with options for your care, such as seeing another physician, advanced practice clinician or, depending on the urgency of your situation, referring you to Urgent Care or Emergency Care.
It is our mission to provide the best acupuncture healthcare to our patients. We understand that there are times when the physician is running behind on seeing patients. Every effort is made to accommodate the needs of our patients. We ensure that our patients are receiving the necessary care needed at the time. Each patient is given the attention and time necessary for providing the best care that is needed based on the assessment and diagnosis. This time may be a few minutes or may take longer than the scheduled time. Each person that presents to us for care has a different health need. We appreciate your patience. Please know that when you have a healthcare issue, we are here for you. Thank you for choosing Dr Lee AcuSuccess!
For more information about your specific health condition, please call for a complimentary 15 minutes consultation with Dr. Lee at 858-356-2286 or email us with a list of your medical conditions for a free consultation at DrLeeAcuSuccess@gmail.com