How to Tell If an Acupuncturist Is Good or Not?

Acupuncture is a key part of traditional Chinese medicine and has been practiced for the last 5,000 years for a variety of medical purposes. Acupuncture has been shown to treat and prevent disease, relieve pain and cure a variety of disorders. Acupuncture literally means "needle piercing" and is the practice of inserting fine, sterile needles into the skin in order to stimulate specific points in the body called acupoints, or acupuncture points. A typical acupuncture treatment may also include the use of heat, pressure, friction, suction or controlled impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the acupoints.

Instructions

• 1

  Locate acupuncturists in your area. Referral sites such as Acufinder.com and registries like the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) can help you find local acupuncturists easily.

• 2

  Check the acupuncturist's credentials. To become a registered acupuncturist, students must complete at least two years of study in a recognized acupuncture program then pass the NCCAOM exam. Acupuncturists are either licensed (L.Ac.), registered (R.Ac.) or certified (C.Ac.). These designations mean different things depending on which state you are in, so be sure to consult the American Association of Oriental Medicine at AAOM.org for your state's specific regulations.

• 3

  Ask questions. You'll want to know that the practitioner you decide upon is someone whom you can talk to easily. After all, it's the acupuncturist's job to communicate well with you in order to treat you effectively. Some questions you might want to ask your practitioner include, "What type of training do you have?" "Do you have experience treating my condition?" and finally, "Do you also prescribe Chinese herbal formulas?"

• 4

  Ask for a referral from the acupuncturist. Speaking with someone who has worked with your acupuncturist before is always a good idea. Getting two to three opinions will give you a good idea of other people's experiences with the clinician.

• 5

  Wait for the results. Generally, you will begin to notice results within one to four treatments. However, there is no specific length of time or frequency of treatments because each person and each condition is different. It can also depend on how old you are and your general health. If, however, you are feeling no differently after six to eight treatments, you may want to move on to another provider.