Overview
Acupuncture is the careful placement of very fine, single-use needles at specific points on the body to relieve pain, calm the nervous system, and improve circulation to injured tissue. At Philiatros Healthcare in Belleville, Illinois, Dr. Charles Portwood uses three related needle techniques — traditional acupuncture, dry needling, and auricular (ear) therapy — chosen based on your diagnosis rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Most patients seek acupuncture here as part of a broader musculoskeletal treatment plan: pairing it with chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, or rehab to accelerate recovery from back pain, neck pain, headaches, or sports injuries. We also see patients who simply want a drug-free option for stress, sleep, or chronic pain that has not responded to medication.
Conditions treated
- Chronic low back pain
- Neck pain and tension
- Tension and migraine headaches
- Sciatica and nerve pain
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff irritation
- Knee, hip, and ankle pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tennis elbow and tendinopathies
- Myofascial trigger points
- Stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulty
- TMJ and jaw pain
- Post-injury and post-surgical recovery
What to expect
Consultation & diagnosis
We start by identifying what is actually generating your symptoms — joint, nerve, muscle, or a combination — so the needles go where they will help, not just where the chart says.
Technique selection
Traditional acupuncture for systemic and chronic complaints, dry needling for specific muscular trigger points, and auricular therapy as an adjunct for pain control, stress, and habit modification.
Treatment session
Sessions take 20–40 minutes. Most patients feel little more than a small pinch as needles are placed, then a deep, relaxed sensation while they rest. Single-use, sterile, FDA-cleared needles only.
Integration with your plan
Acupuncture is rarely a standalone fix. We coordinate it with adjustments, decompression, soft-tissue work, or home exercise so the gains hold between visits.
Reassessment
We track response after 3–6 sessions. If you are not improving, we change the approach or refer — we do not keep you on an open-ended schedule.
Acupuncture, dry needling, or auricular — what is the difference?
All three use the same kind of needle, but the goal and the location are different.
- Traditional acupuncture targets classical meridian points and is best supported for chronic pain, headaches, nausea, and stress-related complaints.
- Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points directly inside a tight or irritated muscle — useful for sports injuries, postural pain, and stubborn muscle knots.
- Auricular therapy uses points on the outer ear, often with retained semi-permanent needles or seeds, as an adjunct for pain control, anxiety, sleep, and habit change.
At your first visit Dr. Portwood will explain which technique fits your case and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
For most patients, no. Acupuncture needles are roughly the diameter of a human hair — many times thinner than the needles used to draw blood. You may feel a brief pinch on insertion and a heavy or warm sensation around the point, but the session itself is usually deeply relaxing.
How is dry needling different from acupuncture?
The needle is the same. The reasoning is different. Acupuncture is selected based on traditional point patterns and whole-body presentation; dry needling targets a specific tight or irritated muscle confirmed on physical exam. We use whichever approach fits your diagnosis — sometimes both.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes, when performed by a trained provider with sterile, single-use needles. Side effects are minor and rare — usually brief soreness or a small bruise at a needle site. We use FDA-cleared, single-use needles that are disposed of after every patient.
How many sessions will I need?
Most acute pain conditions respond within 4–8 sessions. Chronic conditions may take longer or benefit from periodic maintenance. We reassess at every visit and adjust the plan based on actual progress, not a preset package.
Will my insurance cover acupuncture?
Coverage varies widely by plan. Some Medicare plans now cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain, and some commercial plans cover acupuncture for specific diagnoses. Call our office and we can help check your benefits before your first visit.
Do you treat patients from Scott AFB and the surrounding area?
Yes. We see patients from Belleville, Shiloh, O'Fallon, Fairview Heights, Swansea, Mascoutah, and Scott Air Force Base.