Western medicine was largely created by the practice of carving up cadavers and trying to determine what caused their demise. However, ancient Chinese tradition, with its customs of venerating ancestors, did not believe in the practice of cutting bodies, so its treatments largely grew out of observation and outer-body experimentation.

Out of those studies was born the science of acupuncture, which uses very thin needles to make whole the balance of yin and yang in the body. Inserted into the skin at various locations around the body believed to correspond to various organs, the acupuncture practitioner believes that by removing the blocks of the life energy flowing through your system (referred to as Qi, pronounced “chee”), good health and vitality can be restored.

The practice of acupuncture dates back many centuries into the past. Ancient scrolls and wall paintings depict what appears to be acupuncture-like medicine being used, but the first written records that describe the practice appeared approximately 100 B.C. It evolved from there, and during the Ming Dynasty (which lasted from about 1300 to 1600), acupuncture and other alternative medicines were widely developed and practiced.

When China was trying to open itself to the West in the early 20^th century, its traditional medicine was briefly shunted aside. However, after World War II, the ascendant Chinese Communist Party declared that traditional medicine was again in favor, no doubt because it wished to instill a sense of national pride in a war-ravaged country. It also needed the ancient treatments to compensate for a lack of modern medicine and doctors, many of whom were victims of the war.


Acupuncture and alternative medicines flourished as the Chinese Communists firmly seized command of the mainland in the 1950s and 1960s. It remained a rather mysterious part of the national culture during the next three decades because China was largely closed to the West. Then came Richard Nixon’s famous outreach in the 1970s, and diplomatic relations were restored. That led to a renewed interest in Eastern medicine -- particularly acupuncture.

Although many Western medical practitioners were skeptical that acupuncture had any real palliative benefit, subsequent studies confirmed that there was real relief to be found for many ailments. Acupuncture was found to be particularly effective for treatment of pain from chronic sufferers like cancer patients and those with head and neck injuries that resisted more conventional treatments.

The big breakthrough for acupuncture treatments came with a National Institutes of Health study, which detailed findings that acupuncture was a legitimate treatment and not some psychological hocus-pocus with no real scientific basis. Although how it works is still largely a matter of speculation, the fact that it does appear to produce relief for many conditions has now been documented. That has led to government adoption of standards and practices for acupuncture treatments, and many insurance plans now include coverage in some standards of care.

Acupuncture treatments are scheduled much like a traditional doctor’s visit. You are asked to describe your ailment, an examination is conducted, and then the practitioner inserts sterilized thin needles into various pressure points in your body (you have 356 vital areas affecting your body, according to Chinese medicine).


Once inserted, the practitioner may manipulate the needles, warm them, send minor electric current through them or otherwise stimulate them to help unblock the flow of Qi, much like removing pieces of a beaver’s dam in the current flowing through your body. In anywhere from five to 30 minutes, you’re done. Many patients have only one session, but some may go back for several months for treatments, particularly for long-term conditions.

There were 3.1 million acupuncture patients in 2007, according to the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which studies non-traditional practices. That’s the last year for which statistics are available, but with the U.S. population growing and alternative medicine increasingly inching into the mainstream, it’s likely that figure has grown in subsequent years.

How Much Does It Cost?

While insurance may cover some treatments, particularly if you get pre-approval, acupuncture treatments can vary widely in price. Particularly with licensed clinics in big cities that have high demand, it’s not unusual to spend several hundred dollars on your care and treatment for your ailments. That can quickly add up for some, but there are ways that you can lessen the blow to your wallet.

Groupon, Insurance and Schools

Here are a few suggestions that may help you shave some dollars off the potential cost of your acupuncture treatment. Remember this one vital word, though: No. You do not have to accept any treatment your acupuncture specialist proposes, and it’s wise to ask up-front about the potential costs of treatment before you submit to them.


Here are some suggestions for the budget-minded:

Insurance: A quick call to your insurance company can determine whether the cost is covered and how much of it is covered. Use that as a guideline to find the practitioner or clinic that may be right for you. Many clinics are surprisingly flexible if you tell them how much you can afford and what your insurance may cover.

Groupon: This is a deal-of-the-day service that can provide substantial discounts on goods, events and services in your city. Groupon offers different deals that you purchase at a substantial discount – often as much as 50 percent to 90 percent off. Businesses offer the deals in hopes of luring customers to their locations, often because it’s a slow season, the business may be new and needs traction, or simply to draw in customers and upsell them on other services. A Groupon promotion is usually offered for about 24 hours and may require that a certain number of subscribers sign up before becoming valid. Just remember to stick to the prescribed language of the deal. Once you’re in the office, it can be tempting to get add-ons that can quickly increase the cost of your treatment.

Acupuncture Schools: Like trade and professional schools for stylists, dentists, manicurists and other services, those learning the art eventually must switch from a model to a live human in order to get experience with the actual conditions in the field. This means that you can take advantage of the need for subjects by applying to become a volunteer patient. You may receive services at a discounted rate or even free. Although the inexperienced acupuncturists may slip up occasionally, needle insertion is largely pain-free and usually results in a feeling of pressure more than pain.

Your best bet to achieve a discount on services is to ask. Many clinics and individual practitioners are happy to acquire new patients and believe that your satisfaction with their services will lead to a long-lasting and productive relationship for both parties. If it takes a discount to achieve the start of that relationship, many are happy to provide it.