Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the world’s largest drugless healing art. Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the integrity of the spine and a person’s overall health related quality of life. Your spine is the key to health; you have an infinite inborn capacity to heal. Your brain and nervous system have an innate ability to coordinate your body and create healing and growth.
Q: What is Network Care?
Network Care utilizes Network Spinal Analysis (NSA). NSA is a system of assessing and contributing to spinal and neural integrity, as well as health and wellness. Practitioners employ gentle force applications to the spine to assist the body to eliminate mechanical tension in the neurological system. The body naturally develops strategies for dissipation of stored tension/energy, thus enhancing self-regulation of tension and spinal interference.
Q: Who can benefit from Network Care?
People who desire to “bust” stress and enjoy greater wellness, higher performance, body-mind integration and advance their innate healing abilities, both in the short and in the long term. This includes those suffering with acute or chronic health challenges. Virtually anyone who is alive, breathing and has a spine and nervous system will often notice important health and wellness benefits immediately and cumulatively over a lifetime.
Q: What is different about Network Spinal Analysis/Network Chiropractic?
Network Spinal Analysis is a self-healing and transformational process which cumulatively increases “somatic awareness” helping the body recover from stored stress, and chronic adverse spinal and whole body tension patterns. The body responds to this heightened awareness with automatic and spontaneous changes in breath and movement, establishing an internally driven self-corrective phenomenon.
Q: What can I expect as I continue with my care?
Network Spinal Analysis, through specific low force touches to the spine, assists the brain in developing new strategies to:
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experience the world
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adapt to stress
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dissipate tension from the spine and nerves
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connect with your body’s natural rhythms
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experience greater well being
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make healthier choices
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create a more self – correcting self reliant “magical spine”
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develop the Somatopsychic and Respiratory “healing waves”
Q: Do you work with pregnant women?
Pregnancy is an important opportunity to create a more highly functioning spine and nervous system. As the body undergoes tremendous physical changes, it is important to decrease tension being held in the spine and pelvis. This all can contribute to a more pain-free and joyous laboring and birthing experience.
Q: Do you work with children?
Whether or not your child has back or neck pain, it is important that they receive a spinal check-up. Because Network is so gentle, it is especially well suited for children. As a concerned parent, you want the best for your child. Several factors impact your child’s overall health including: diet, exercise, proper rest, emotional and spiritual support, and a properly functioning nervous system!
Q: Do you work with infants?
Nothing gives Dr. Dan more joy than working with newborns. He LOVES babies. Because the contacts are so gentle, newborns love being adjusted by Dr. Dan and have profound changes after entrainments. Often the birth process can be very stressful, both on mom and on the newborn. Amongst many other things, the adjustment can help release spinal distortions caused by birth.
Q: Do you do any forceful/structural adjustments?
After the body has released substantial amounts of tension, there may still be structural misalignments from more physical causes. At this point, Dr. Dan will do structural adjustments as needed.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
If you have chiropractic coverage in your health care plan, Dr. Dan can bill your insurance to have you reimbursed at an Out-of-Network rate. Dr. Dan is not a member of any HMO or PPO.
Q: What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient method of medicine that uses the body’s energy or Qi/ Life Force, to treat conditions such as pain, dizziness, nausea, chronic conditions, post-stroke paralysis, drug and alcohol addiction, etc. Acupuncture uses very fine, sterile, single-use needles placed in specific locations around the body to manipulate that energy. There are acupuncture points all over the body, including the face and scalp. Where you will have needles placed will depend on your signs and symptoms. Other modalities used in treatment can include electrostimulation, gua sha, and cupping. Read the FAQs below for more information on these therapies.
Q: Does Acupuncture Hurt?
The acupuncture treatments themselves typically do not hurt. Occasionally you will feel a pinching sensation as the needles are inserted. With the needles in place, you may feel pressure, tingling, or aching. This is the Qi /Life Force being activated.
Q: Are there any side effects from acupuncture?
After an acupuncture treatment you will be advised to rest and drink extra water. Most people feel very relaxed and energized after an acupuncture treatment. On occasion you may experience a small bruise where a needle was inserted. This is possible and atypical.
Q: What can I expect during a treatment?
You will meet with Amy for an in-depth conversation about your signs and symptoms and your comprehensive health history. You may be asked some questions about your diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Then, you will have acupuncture needles inserted gently into the skin. You may receive other treatments such as gua sha or moxibustion at the same time as acupuncture. Undressing is seldom necessary for acupuncture treatments but you should wear loose, comfortable clothes.ired response. It is not expected to be uncomfortable or painful. If you do experience any pain or discomfort, tell Amy immediately, as your needles may need to be adjusted.
Q: Is Acupuncture ever not a good idea?
While there are no contraindications to receiving acupuncture or other TCM treatment modalities, there may be certain conditions or circumstances that may prevent you from receiving a treatment today. Some conditions may mean that certain acupuncture points or treatments are cautioned or contraindicated, and your treatment plan will be adjusted accordingly. It is very important to let Amy know if you are or might be pregnant and what medications and supplements you are taking so she can support you in the best way possible.
Q: What is electrostimulation?
Electrostimulation uses small electrodes attached to acupuncture needles to send an electrical impulse into the muscle. It is most often used for musculoskeletal pain and paralysis. The acupuncture intern will insert 2-6 needles in an area and attach electrodes. You will feel a mild pulsing in time with the electrical impulse. If you have any concerns, please discuss them with Amy.
Q: What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha is a treatment that is used primarily for early cold symptoms or tightness in large muscle groups. This technique involves using a dull-edged device to gently scrape the skin, usually the upper back and neck. It is not painful. There is no bleeding or scabbing. You may experience some slight bruising that will last 1 to 3 days.
Q: What is Cupping?
Cupping is a technique that is most often used for musculoskeletal pain, such as back pain. In this technique, small glass or plastic cups will be placed on the affected area and suction will be created, drawing some of your tissue inside the cup. Your clinic intern practitioner may apply a thin layer of oil to your skin and may move the cups around the affected area. There is no bleeding. You may feel a sensation similar to that of being massaged. You may experience round bruises or bruising over the affected area that may last 3 to 5 days. Following treatment you will be advised to keep the area covered and avoid windy conditions for a day or two, and to wear a windproof jacket in the wind.
Q: What is moxa or moxibustion?
Moxibustion is a heating method of treatment using the Chinese herb mugwort. Moxibustion is used for treating pain, trauma, and certain cold-related injuries or conditions. The mugwort is compressed into a stick that is burned near the body or into small cones that are placed on the body with a protective barrier that prevents burning. Both these methods introduce heat into the affected area, providing relief of pain. There is some limited smoke and odor when using moxibustion.
Please advise your practitioner if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions, or if you are sensitive to odors.
Q: Are Herbal Prescriptions Safe? Can I Take Them with Other Medications?
Chinese herbal formulas are specially formulated combinations of traditional herbs that are intended to compliment acupuncture treatments for most conditions. Chinese herbs can be plants, sea products, and animal products. Amy uses herbs that are sourced through an international vendor who provides organically grown herbs that are processed using GMP standards. Herbs come in pill form, powders that you mix with warm water and drink as tea, and raw herbs that you simmer in water and then drink as tea. Amy will explain any herbal formula you may receive, as well as any anticipated interactions with your medications. Do not never discontinue physician-prescribed medications without consulting the doctor who prescribed them.
Please advise your practitioner if you are vegan or vegetarian, and if you have any food/medication/environmental allergies or sensitivities.
Q: Is there Any Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture:
Every policy is different. Many plans like Tufts, CIGNA, Aetna, Health NE & BC/BS have arrangements through which I give you a discount. In this case, you receive the discount at the time of services and pay Amy directly. Some plans, Harvard Pilgrim and UNITED offer coverage that I can bill for. Please contact your insurance company directly and feel free to contact your local Congressperson to ask that Acupuncture be covered under the upcoming healthcare plan.
Please contact Amy for more information on these services or if you have any questions.
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