Three Treasures Acupuncture - Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine

Three Treasures is now Triangle Natural Medicine

Does Acupuncture work?

What does Acupuncture treat?

Does Acupuncture hurt?

What will happen at my Acupuncture treatment?

How much does Acupuncture cost?

Will insurance cover my Acupuncture treatment?

How many treatments will I need?

How should I prepare for my Acupuncture treatment?

Will I need to take an herbal formula?

Is Acupuncture a substitute for Western Medicine?

Does Acupuncture work?
Yes. Do you know anyone who has tried Acupuncture? Ask them. Better yet, try it for yourself a couple times and come to your own conclusions. What is the official line on Acupuncture? See what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health has to say.

What does Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture treats a range of diseases and conditions—see this World Health Organization report. But rather than targeting specific pathology, Acupuncture seeks to balance and strengthen our whole being. In other words, TCM helps the body heal itself. Western medicine wants to believe that it understands and can treat everything. What do you think? Our bodies, on the other hand, have thousands of years of genetic self-healing practice.

Does Acupuncture hurt?
Not if it’s done well. Acupuncture needles are very small (about 20 times smaller than a hypodermic needle used for drawing blood), and their insertion when noticeable feels like a pinch or small bug bite. For very sensitive patients, we can use even smaller needles with very slow and shallow insertions.

What will happen at my Acupuncture treatment?
Your practitioner will begin by asking about your condition. He will then examine your tongue and pulse. Finally he will insert usually between 4 and 16 needles at acupoints around your body. He may also recommend dietary therapy, herbal medicines, or homeopathic remedies as a part of your treament plan.

How much does Acupuncture cost?
Please see our Prices here

Will insurance cover my Acupuncture treatment?
Unfortunately in North Carolina Acupuncture is not a reimbursable expense. Contact your insurance company to see whether your policy covers Acupuncture treatment and if so, exactly what that coverage entails. Though we do not bill insurance, we will provide you with the necessary codes (known as a ‘Superbill’) for you to submit to your provider for reimbursement.

How many treatments will I need?
For minor acute injury or illness, e.g. minor muscle strain/sprain, cold, flu, vomiting/diarrhea, etc., usually one or two treatments are sufficient. For chronic complaints a general rule of thumb is one month of treatment (once/week) for every year a patient has had the condition. To get such a result will most likely involve the combination of Acupuncture, Herbs, and Nutritional discipline. For very severe conditions, two visits per week for several weeks might be necessary in the beginning.

How should I prepare for my Acupuncture treatment?
First, do not eat a large meal before your treatment; you must also avoid coming in hungry on an empty stomach. Eating a healthy snack about 1 hour before your treatment is ideal. Second, if possible wear loose fitting clothes that can be easily raised above your elbows and knees without causing restriction. Otherwise you will need to change into a gown (this is sometimes necessary for back treatments regardless of clothing type).

Will I need to take an herbal formula?
Herbs are an important therapeutic modality within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Very often when combined with Acupuncture they have a synergistic effect accelerating your body’s healing processes. In such cases, they are highly recommended. Herbal formulas are typically administered in one of four ways (depending upon the severity of your condition). For low severity of disharmony ‘tea pills’ (very small round pills) are often adequate. For moderate severity, formula tinctures provide slightly more rapid and pronounced results. For a more severe but common pattern of disharmony, a powdered formula stirred into warm water can be administered. And in very severe cases involving multiple complex patterns of disharmony (typical of advanced disease states), a uniquely designed loose herb formula (taken home by the patient and boiled for 40 minutes before drinking) might be indispensable.

Is Acupuncture a substitute for Western Medicine?
No, absolutely not. Western Medicine excels at what we call Emergent Care--care of patients in critical condition. If you ever confront a medical emergency, get to a hospital Emergency Room as quickly as possible (this may mean calling 911).