While you might be prepared to buy a latte on the go from a dodgy cafe, when it comes to your health, you want to make sure you're purchasing treatment from people who know what they are doing. You want practitioners with the skills, experience and qualifications to offer you the best possible health outcomes; this obviously applies when selecting your acupuncturist. Let's take a look:
What Difference Does it Make Who You Choose for Your Acupuncture Treatment?
Did you know that more than 400 acupuncture points have been described in the body? That's a lot! Knowing exactly which acupuncture points to use to address each specific patient ailment takes years of training and experience. That's why it really does matter that you select a well qualified practitioner.
As we've discussed in a previous post, clinical trials have found acupuncture to be effective at treating a range of commonly occurring conditions or symptoms. If you've taken the trouble to contact an acupuncture clinic, you obviously want help with your particular ailment. However if you see an inexperienced or insufficiently qualified acupuncturist, you may not get the relief you anticipate.
It Can be a Safety Issue
It's a health imperative that you seek well qualified practitioners to manager your health concerns - that's pretty much a given. However, have you considered the safety issues as well? If you choose an unqualified or unregistered acupuncturist, can you be confident they are following correct safety procedures? For example:
- Providing a hygienic and clean treatment room
- Using single use, hygienically sealed needles for each treatment
- Conducting a thorough medical assessment to ensure you are an appropriate patient to receive acupuncture - some evidence exists that people with pace-makers can face complications if they undergo electrical acupuncture and that some forms of acupuncture can actually stimulate labour in pregnant women
- Advising you to eat prior to your appointment � some patients can experience dizziness or light-headedness if they undergo treatment without anything in their stomach
Is Your Acupuncturist Registered with AACMA?
One off the easiest ways to confirm if your acupuncturist is qualified to perform treatment is to confirm that they are registered with the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA).
AACMA states that in order for practitioners to qualify for registration they must be:
"educated in TCM [traditional Chinese medicine) theory, diagnosis and clinical assessment as well as the Western bio-medical sciences."
plus
"�pass our stringent entry requirements and [be] bound by a professional Code of Ethics and contemporary standards of health care practice."
And finally,
"AACMA recognises graduates of established four to five year full-time Australian bachelor degree programs in acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine."
At Healthway Clinic, Dr Jimmy An is registered with AACMA and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), giving you confidence in your acupuncture treatment.
How to Find a Qualified Specialist Acupuncturist?
It's always worthwhile to look for customer testimonials on various review websites to get a sense of whether you're happy to visit a particular clinic. You are entitled to ask questions about the practitioner's credentials, experience and specialisations. At Healthway Clinic we encourage you to do so, so that you feel comfortable with the treatment and know what to expect.
Suffering from chronic pain, depression or other ailments? Contact us today.