The Power of Acupuncture BY RUBINA HEPTULLA, MD, MBA
training and experience. Some insurances require physician acupuncturists to supervise the sessions.
Acupuncture is an over 5,000-year-old Eastern medicine practice that originated in China. It has also been long-used in Japan and Korea, with each of these societies employing their own unique method to help patients recover from disease and/or alleviate disabilities.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS? Unlike medications which have long lists of side effects, acupuncture has very few side e-•ects. Needles are sterile packaged as single use and disposed thereafter, making infections caused by acupuncture needles extremely rare.
Acupuncture uses extremely thin needles to stimulate certain points on the body’s meridians to reduce pain and activate antiinflammatorye-•ects,andpromotehealing.
IS ACUPUNCTURE PAINFUL? Contrary to common belief that needle pricks cause pain, acupuncture needles aredesignedverydi-•erentlythaninjection needles that deliver medications or extract blood. Acupuncture needles have no inThere may be soreness, ternal lumen (canal); hence, they are exmild bleeding or bruising at tremelyfine.Theyalsorollaroundvessels the site. If one is pregnant, so as to not puncture veins and capillaries the patient should inform Dr. Rubina Heptulla with a patient as other needles are intended to do. Some the acupuncturist to ensure acupunctureneedlesaresosmalland fine certain points are avoided musculoskeletal pain, and worker’s comthat they are barely felt when inserted. pensation covers certain acupuncture ben- so as not to induce labor. Acupuncture helpful for back pain during efits. Insurance verifications doneis by extremely you IS ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTIVE? or your acupuncturist can help you deter- pregnancy but care must be used. Acupuncture has been shown to be very mine if you are covered for these services. e-•ective for pain management, particu WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT AFTER larly back pain. Throughout the world, HOW MANY VISITS ARE NEEDED? AN ACUPUNCTURE SESSION? patients also use acupuncture as an an- Many patients with painful conditions or Most people feel relaxed or energized esthesia alternative, particularly for preg- even lack of sensation caused by nerve after an acupuncture session. This denant women with labor pains. pends on which points were used to actidamage may benefit from acupuncture. The number of treatments needed var- vate the body. If you would like a relaxing WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE ies from person to person. Acute pain acupuncture session, you can ask your TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE? management treatment is more acupuncturist for that at the start of the - e•ec Conditions that acupuncture addresses in- tive with acupuncture rather than long- session. Not all patients respond to treatclude: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, standing problems. Plan on at least 10 to ment with acupuncture. Go with an open knee and ankle pain, carpal tunnel syn- 12 treatment sessions, done over four to mind to healing and use the time when drome, migraines and headaches, insomnia, six weeks, to see improvement. If, after needles are inserted to meditate and nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, 12 sessions, no benefits are seen, other focus on your breath without judgment. allergies, constipation, menstrual cramps, approaches should be considered. Acu- Meditation plus acupuncture can do wontinnitus, dental pain and labor pains. puncture treatment, along with physical ders for pain management. Pain reductherapy and chiropractic care, in certain tion may not occur right after the session IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED but may be noticed 24 to 48 hours later. cases, has an overall benefit for - muscu BY MEDICAL INSURANCE? loskeletal disorders. n n n In 2020, Medicare approved the use of Rubina Heptulla, MD, MBA is President of Millenacupuncture for treatment of chronic low WHO CAN PERFORM nium Medical Physical Therapy, Rehab, a comback pain, allowing 12 to 20 visits. Many ACUPUNCTURE? prehensive rehabilitation facility located at 1075 private insurance carriers also cover acu- Acupuncture should only be done by a li- Central Park Ave. in Scarsdale; 914-472-2700; puncture treatment for back pain and other censedacupuncturistwhohashadsu-www.mmrclinic.com cient westchesterseniorvoice.com
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spring 2022
