What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient medical system that uses fine, sterile needles placed at specific points on the body to influence the nervous system, circulation, and the body’s innate healing systems.
Clinically, acupuncture relieves pain, reduces stress, supports sleep and digestion, and helps rebalance hormones and immune function.
At The Holistic Clinic we use acupuncture both for immediate symptom relief and as part of a whole-body, root-cause plan.
Acupuncture in Daphne and Fairhope
Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine: a whole-system approach
Chinese medicine is not only about needles. It’s a 4,000–5,000-year-old medical tradition that views health as the balanced interaction of organ systems, energy pathways, and lifestyle. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and therapeutic movement work together to restore system balance — improving symptoms and addressing the underlying drivers of chronic illness, fertility issues, autoimmune dysfunction, and environmental health problems.
Training matters — not all “needling” is the same
Licensed Acupuncturists complete rigorous clinical training. Typical accredited Master’s programs include ~3,000 hours of coursework and supervised clinical practice in Chinese medical coursework, Chinese medical theory, needling techniques, safety and sterilization, differential diagnosis, and western medical classes such as Gynecology, Immunology and extensive training in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Eastern Medical School training is equivalent to Western Medical School yet both practitioners treat illness in different ways. We treat complex, systemic conditions safely and effectively with Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and Herbal Formulas.
-
Dry-needling courses offered to other clinicians (physical therapists, chiropractors, or other providers) are often brief — only 20–100 hours of training
-
It focuses narrowly on trigger-point or muscular needling. Because the scope, theoretical framework, and amount of supervised clinical experience are different, dry-needling is not equivalent to Chinese medical acupuncture.
-
Using short weekend training to perform full-system Acupuncture care does not substitute for the comprehensive education of a Licensed Acupuncturist.
Frequently asked questions
Safety — what to know (and why proper training matters)
When performed by a well-trained, licensed practitioner, acupuncture is very safe. Needles are sterile, single-use, and complications are rare. However, any procedure that penetrates the skin carries risks when performed without proper training:
-
Pneumothorax (punctured lung): placing needles too deep in the chest or back can cause a collapsed lung. This is a rare but documented risk that underscores the need for precise anatomical knowledge and supervised clinical experience.
-
Infection: using non-sterile technique or re-using needles can cause infection — we use single-use sterile needles and strict infection-control practices.
-
Nerve or tissue injury: improper depth, angle, or needle manipulation can cause bruising, nerve irritation, or other tissue injury.
For your safety, always confirm your practitioner’s credentials, ask about training and supervised clinical hours, and make sure they follow single-use, sterile needle protocols.
Should Chiropractors be performing Acupuncture?
No. Lobbyists have been trying to stop this since its inception. They don’t have enough training and it has led to numerous serious injuries. Acupuncturists are not taking a 100 hour course and doing Chiropractic work for the same reason; lack of skills and training.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
No! Very small sterile needles are inserted into specific points, that are known Acupuncture points. This means there is a small hole or vortex of energy there, which is between tendons, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. The small needle activates this point, thus creating an impulse of 15 microvolts of energy that travels along a pathway called a Meridian. Once all of the needles are placed, it creates a euphoric effect where typically the patient falls asleep and is in a deep state of relaxation.
What Does Acupuncture Treat?
Acupuncture treats any body, system or organ imbalance. If there is a word for it, we have a point for it. It can help such diagnoses as insomnia, stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, gut issues, pain, nerve issues, numbness, fatigue, etc. Acupuncture is a complete balancing modality for the body, if performed by a Licensed Acupuncturist. We treat anything that a western doctor treats, but we treat it naturally and at the root.
What to look for when choosing a practitioner
- Licensure: look for L.Ac., Board certification, and state licensure.
-
Education & clinical hours: ask how many supervised clinical hours and what program the practitioner attended.
-
Sterile, single-use needles: confirm they use disposable needles and standard infection-control.
-
Experience with your condition: ask about experience treating fertility, autoimmune illness, mold/toxin illness, chronic pain, or whatever your concern is.
-
Collaborative care: a good practitioner coordinates with your other providers and uses lab testing when appropriate.
Dry needling & “weekend acupuncture” — the difference
“Dry needling” and short certification courses are not the same as a full Chinese medical education. Dry needling typically targets local muscle trigger points and is taught from a musculoskeletal model — not the Chinese medicine system. Weekend or short-format “acupuncture” trainings for non-acupuncturists cannot substitute for accredited Master’s programs that provide thousands of hours of study and clinical hours. If a clinician calls themselves an “acupuncturist,” check their licensing — only a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) has the specific, comprehensive training in Chinese medicine and needling safety.
Should Anyone Be Performing Acupuncture besides a Licensed Acupuncturist with 4 years of graduate training?
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
