Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is one of the most widely practiced medical procedures in the world and can help you achieve your whole-health physical and emotional goals. Along with acupuncture, your acupuncturist may provide nutritional recommendations, mind-body exercise instruction and manual therapies, such as Chinese massage (tui na), scraping of the skin (gua sha), cupping and dry needling.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture and its related treatments come from traditional Chinese medicine and are also based on what Western medicine knows about the body, how it works and what can go wrong with it. Acupuncture has been used for over 4,000 years to promote healing naturally.

How does acupuncture work?

Current research shows that acupuncture works by stimulating blood vessels, nerves and the release of hormones. Very thin needles are placed at specific points on the body. This usually causes very little pain, with most people only noticing a small prick. These needles help increase blood flow, block pain signals to the brain and release natural chemicals like endorphins to reduce both physical pain and emotional stress.

Acupuncture benefits

Acupuncture benefits may include:

Faster healing of muscle, bone and joint conditions
Improved mobility and athletic performance
Reduced pain and inflammation
Increased relaxation

Learn more about acupuncture as integrative cancer therapy. Research has also shown that acupuncture benefits include managing the side effects of conventional cancer treatments such as pain, immune functions, nausea, neuropathy, etc.

Acupuncture at Aurora Health Care

Aurora doctors work closely with holistic therapists like acupuncturists to enhance your healing and performance. People come to us for acupuncture because we offer:

Multiple healing methods: In addition to standard acupuncture treatments, our acupuncturists also offer specialized Chinese medicine techniques for pain reduction. These methods include cupping, Gua Sha (scraping), Tui Na (Chinese massage) and dry needling.
Licensed experts: All of our acupuncturists are licensed by the state of Wisconsin and follow National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) guidelines.
Comprehensive treatment: As one of the nation's largest health care organizations, we offer everything you need in a single, integrated system. Not only do we believe it should be easy for your care team to communicate with each other – we believe in treating the whole patient. In many cases, that means incorporating traditional medicine with more holistic remedies. Learn more about other integrative care treatments like massage therapy and chiropractic care.

Planning your acupuncture treatment

The typical course of acupuncture includes six to 10 treatments, but you may see improvement after just a couple visits. Your first visit will take about 60 minutes and include an individualized evaluation. Follow-up appointments last 45 to 60 minutes. You don’t have to do anything special to prepare, but it is recommended to eat a light meal prior to your appointment.

Before you start your treatment, it’s important to check if acupuncture is covered by your insurance plan.

During your acupuncture session

At the start of your session, your acupuncturist will tell you the areas of the body they’ll focus on and whether you need to remove any clothing. You will lie on a padded table during treatment.

During the session, your acupuncturist will insert several hair-thin needles in strategic locations. Most people feel only a mild sensation. Your acupuncturist may move the needles gently, sometimes using heat and electrical stimulation to enhance therapy.

After about 20 to 30 minutes, your acupuncturist will remove the needles and dispose of them immediately.

Many people report excellent results and many acupuncture benefits, but acupuncture doesn’t work for everyone. Make sure you communicate with your orthopedist and primary care doctor about your acupuncture treatments.

Pricing

Initial evaluation*: $36-72 based on the complexity of your condition
Acupuncture Treatment:
- $93 without electrical stimulation
- $103 with electrical stimulation

Your first appointment may include both an evaluation and treatment. Accessory techniques such as cupping, gua sha, tui na, etc. may also be recommended to help achieve your treatment goals.

Fees may vary by location and are subject to change. Your health insurance may cover acupuncture. Verify your benefits with your plan administrator.

Special pricing is available to patients being treated at Aurora Cancer Care locations. Learn more about acupuncture and massage therapy for cancer care.