
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very thin (much thinner than the needle used for a blood test) and so most people barely feel the insertion. Once the needle is in place, you may feel some mild aching or tingling at the site of the needle, or you may feel no sensation at all. Most people who were worried about whether the treatment would be painful laugh afterward about their needless worrying.
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2. I’m afraid of needles. Can I still get treatment?
Yes. Dr. Baert is keen to work with people who are nervous about getting treatment. Instead of doing acupuncture, she can treat you with Chinese herbal medicine, fire cupping or moxibustion, or she can teach you how to do acupressure on yourself at home. If you are nervous, but you want to try acupuncture, Dr. Baert can do a free demonstration for you so that you can see how the needles look and feel.
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3. What symptoms and conditions do you treat?
Dr. Baert treats a wide variety of ailments including acute and chronic pain due to any cause, all kinds of digestive, gynecological, urogenital problems, mood issues, insomnia, energy and body temperature problems including menopause, as well as neurodegenerative conditions and movement disorders. For more detail, click on the What Can TCM Treat link in the menu above.
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4. Is acupuncture safe?
Modern acupuncture needles are prepackaged, sterile, and are one-time use only, which means they are discarded after one insertion. The risk of infection is extremely low because the needle is sterile and the skin is cleaned with antiseptic prior to insertion. Occasionally, a small bruise or mild aching can occur where the needle was placed. The mild aching typically lasts only a few hours, if at all.
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5. How long does the relief from an acupuncture treatment last?
The length of relief typically increases the more treatments you have and when they are done regularly. Eventually the length of relief will become long enough that you'll need treatment less frequently and eventually you'll no longer need treatment at all.
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6. How many treatments will I need?
This varies greatly depending upon what condition or symptoms are being treated and how long you've had those symptoms. This is best discussed with Dr. Baert during your Initial Consultation. That being said, if pain is your main symptom, most people feel relief from even the first treatment.
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7. I've had acupuncture before, but it didn’t help me. Why should I try it again?
As in all professions, acupuncturists have varying levels of skill and experience. Some have more experience treating some symptoms and conditions than others. Also, acupuncture performed by a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or medical doctor (MD) is different than that done by an acupuncturist. Acupuncturists treat based on Chinese meridian theory, which makes relationships between symptoms that would appear unrelated to a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or MD. For a more detailed explanation, read Dr. Baert’s article called Did You Know That There Are Different Types of Acupuncture?
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8. What's the difference between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic healthcare system that includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, fire cupping, tui na (Chinese medical massage), and moxibustion.
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9. There is no diagnosis for my condition. Can you still treat me?
Yes. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is especially suited for treating conditions for which there is no diagnosis and/or no treatment in Western medicine.
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10. Are Dr. Baert's treatments covered by insurance?
Yes. Most insurance plans cover acupuncture when it is performed by a registered acupuncturist (which Dr. Baert is), but each person has different coverage so check your plan.
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11. Why doesn't Dr. Baert do direct billing?
Direct billing is time consuming for practitioners and time spent on administration means less time treating patients. Making a claim to your insurer online has recently become much easier and usually you get reimbursed within 1-2 days.