Acupuncture needles placed along a patient's upper back and shoulders

Acupuncture in Denver
with Isabelle D'Arcy, L.Ac.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that places tiny, sterile needles at specific points on the body to help it rebalance. Needles can go in the arms, legs, torso, and head. There are over 300 points in all, and each one has its own treatment properties. Once the needles are in, you rest on the table for 30 to 40 minutes. It's common for people to doze off and wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed. A different way of looking at healthChinese medicine developed over about 2,500 years, and in China it was simply medicine. It was used for everything people faced, from aches and pains to serious illness. Acupuncture works through a system of channels that run throughout the body. Rather than treating a symptom on its own, I look for the pattern of imbalance underneath it. Two people with the same headache can have very different patterns, so they may be treated quite differently. The goal is to get at the root of the problem so that relief lasts.

What a visit looks like

We start by talking about what brought you in and how you've been feeling overall. I'll explain how I'm understanding your symptoms and how your daily habits might be part of the picture. Depending on what we're treating, I place somewhere between 10 and 30 needles. They are about as thin as a hair, and most people barely feel them. Some feel a brief tingling, achiness, or heaviness that fades quickly. Then you rest for 30 to 40 minutes while the needles do their work.

Quiet treatment room at Blue Jay Acupuncture in South Denver

What acupuncture treats

Acupuncture has treatments for almost any non-emergency health issue. Here are some of the issues I see commonly in my clinic:

Pain and injury recovery – sciatic pain, low back pain, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain or stiffness, wrist pain and more.
Post-car accident recovery
Inflammation
Headaches and migraines
Arthritic pain
Leg cramping
TMJ/Jaw issues
Facial paralysis, Bell's palsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia
Sinus congestion and pain
Allergies

Insomnia and sleep issues
Women's health, including menstrual and menopausal issues
Fertility, pregnancy and postpartum care
Digestive problems such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, acid reflux, bloating
Weight loss
Urinary issues
Fatigue
Stress, anxious or depressive feelings
Persistent cough
Cold and flu, sore throat

I offer free 15 minute consultations so you can get a sense of whether acupuncture is likely to help with your particular issue.

Research on acupuncture's efficacy

Western research on acupuncture keeps growing, and the evidence is stronger for some conditions than others. Here are some of the best studies.

Chronic Pain

The largest look at chronic pain pooled the data of 20,827 patients from 39 randomized trials, covering musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain. Acupuncture did better than both sham acupuncture and no acupuncture for each condition, and the benefits lasted over time. The difference from sham was smaller than the difference from no treatment, which is worth knowing. Some of the benefit likely comes from the care and attention of a treatment itself, and I think that's a real part of healing.

Back Pain

For back pain, the American College of Physicians recommended in 2017 that people with chronic low back pain begin with non drug treatments, and acupuncture is one of the options they named, backed by moderate quality evidence. They also listed it among the options for acute and subacute low back pain.

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches have been studied closely. A Cochrane review of 22 trials in people with episodic migraine found that acupuncture reduced migraine frequency by a small but statistically significant amount compared with sham. People receiving acupuncture were also less likely to report side effects than people taking preventive medication. A separate Cochrane review of 12 trials with 2,349 adults found that a course of at least six sessions can be a valuable option for people with frequent tension type headache. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine

Cancer Care

In cancer care, a multicenter trial of 226 postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer found that acupuncture reduced joint pain from aromatase inhibitors more than sham acupuncture or no treatment. A follow up found that the reduction in pain was still there 40 weeks after treatment stopped.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

How does acupuncture work?

From the Western, biomedical perspective, it is understood that when a needle is inserted, the fascia twists around it and sends a signal to the brain. But the question of why certain points affect different parts of the body – for example, why placing a needle on a specific point on the leg will treat shoulder pain – is yet unanswered. Acupuncture is best understood within the context of Chinese medical philosophy from which it was born. Within this philosophy, acupuncture points occur along distinct energetic channels. This explains why needling a point on the foot can get rid of a headache, because they are on the same channel and by needling the point on the foot we are drawing the stagnation causing headache down from the head and out.

In the coming years our understanding of acupuncture from a scientific perspective will grow and deepen. What we know to be true now, and for the past 2,500 years, is that it works.

Does acupuncture hurt?

Usually no. The needles are not at all like those used for an IV or blood draw. They are tiny, like the breadth of a hair. Often, the patient barely feels them, but may feel a tingly, achy, heavy, or sharp sensation, which fades quickly. Once all needles have been inserted (depending on the practitioner and the issue being treated, it will be 10-30 needles), the patient rests on the treatment table for 30-40 minutes. Most find this to be an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

What should I expect at my first visit?

We'll talk about what's going on and what you'd like to change. Then I'll place the needles, and you'll rest for 30 to 40 minutes. I'll explain what I'm seeing and what I'm treating so it makes sense to you. For more information, check out my article on What to Expect During an Acupuncture Treatment.

Do You Accept Insurance?

No. The exception is auto accidents and workers' comp, which I can often bill for. Visit this page to learn more about how acupuncture could be free for you post auto accident.

Can I use my HSA/FSA Card?

Yes.

Is acupuncture safe? Are there side effects?

Acupuncture is considered very safe when done by a licensed practitioner. The most common side effects are mild: a little bruising at a needle site, some soreness, or feeling very relaxed afterward. Please tell me if you are pregnant, take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, or have a pacemaker so I can plan your treatment around it.

How much do treatments cost?

Please see our pricing page, where all pricing is provided.

Are acupuncture needles reused?

No. Needles are one time use, taken from sterile packaging at the moment of treatment and immediately put into a sharps container upon removal. Furthermore, the site of insertion is cleansed with alcohol to ensure cleanliness and safety.

Is Acupuncture The Same As Dry Needling?

Yes and no. They use the same needles, but the training and approach differ. Acupuncture is performed by a licensed acupuncturist with a master's degree and at least 1,900 hours of training. Dry needling is often performed by providers whose needle training is much shorter, and in Colorado that is 50 hours, only 10 of them in person. Acupuncture treats the local area of pain when appropriate, and also looks at your whole body and the underlying pattern so the problem is less likely to come back. It is usually gentle, with needles placed and left to do their work. Stronger needle manipulation doesn't necessarily make for a more effective treatment. For more information on the difference and similarities, please refer to this article: Acupuncture vs. Dry Needling

Can I combine acupuncture with other care?

Yes. Acupuncture works alongside medical care, physical therapy, and medications. Keep seeing your doctors, and tell me what you're taking so we're all working in the same direction.

How Many Treatments Do I Need?

It depends on the issue treated, the severity, whether it is acute or chronic, and how the patient responds to treatment. I recommend coming in for 4-6 sessions to begin with. Some issues fully resolve within that period of time while others require further care. Usually after a few treatments we are seeing week after week improvement.

People often tell me, "I tried acupuncture once." Trying acupuncture once is like taking one antibiotic pill. It could resolve the issue but likely it will take a few treatments.

I Want to Learn More. What Book Do I Read?

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted Kaptchuk is an essential guide to understanding Chinese Medicine on its own terms. I also provide education to my patients so they can understand how I am viewing their diagnosis and treatment, as well as how it ties into lifestyle choices and changes.