You have questions, we have answers!

Acupuncture is a medical technique of inserting & manipulating fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body. Yes, we said “needles” but our needles are extremely thin, about the diameter of a cat’s whisker, which means they don’t tear through you like an injection needle or blood draw. These needles stimulate processes within your body to promote healing as well as enhance physical and emotional health. Acupuncture is safe, painless and effective in treating a wide variety of medical conditions.

Acupuncture works on the body in several ways, these are just some of them:

• Acupuncture releases endorphins and enkephalins, which create an immune system response.

• Acupuncture stimulates the release of norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters that work to reduce pain and promote healing.

• Acupuncture increases blood flow to the treated areas. This allows your body to heal injured tissues more quickly.

The number of treatments necessary to achieve optimal health is different for everyone. Some experience immediate relief; others may take months to achieve results. The longer a condition has been affecting your body, the longer it will take to resolve. Expect to receive at least a month of treatments to see significant changes. We may suggest one or two treatments per week, then reduce the frequency as you improve. Some patients may always require weekly or bi-weekly treatment do keep their condition managed. Most people eventually move to monthly or quarterly visits for health maintenance or seasonal “tune-ups”.

No, unfortunately we no longer bill insurance directly. We are happy to provide you with a superbill and you can self submit the charges to your insurance company.

Honestly, we don’t know. There are dozens of policies under each insurance carrier. Some cover acupuncture, and some don’t. The fastest way to find out is for you to ask your insurance the following questions:

• Does my plan cover acupuncture?
• How many visits per year?
• Do I have a deductible or co-pay for acupuncture?
• Has my deductible been met?
• Are there any exclusions or specific condition requirements?

We no longer bill insurance directly. This is a result of reduced payments, increased paperwork, and difficulty both verifying and receiving benefits. Patients are able to reach representatives far more easily than we are. Due to these complications, we happily provide a superbill for any patients that want to bill their insurance company.

Acupuncture is extremely safe when performed by an experienced, board certified acupuncture physician, rather than someone with minimal hours of training. It is drug-free, all natural, and has very few negative side effects. We can’t see through your skin so every once in a while you may notice a small bruise at the insertion site. This is perfectly fine and is not an indication of a problem. A needles are sterile, single use, and discarded into a bio-hazard container.

It is common to feel numbness, heaviness and/or tingling where the acupuncture needle has been inserted. Sometimes patients notice a sensation of energy moving around the needle. These reactions are a good indication that the treatment is working, however, patients that don’t feel anything during treatment still receive great results. After a treatment, you may feel energized or relaxed and peaceful, you might even feel nothing. All of those responses are perfectly normal.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing for easy access to acupuncture points.
• Don’t eat large meals just before or after your visit (but do make sure you have eaten).
• Refrain from overexertion, non-prescription drugs, and alcohol for up to 6 hours after your treatment ends.
• Avoid stressful situations (if you can) and be sure to get plenty of rest before your treatment.

Practitioners of acupuncture believe that Qi (pronounced chee) is a life energy that travels through 14 pathways within the body. Meridian pathways transport energy to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the same way a river carries water which makes the ground fertile.

The easiest way to understand this conceptual medicine, is to think about the circulatory system, or the nervous system. Both run throughout the body, much like qi/energy.

When energy and nutrients flow freely, the body functions properly. A blockage of qi is similar to a dam in a river causing a blockage of flow. As a result of the restriction, the body doesn’t receive what it needs to function well and stay healthy.

Our health is impacted by:

• emotions
• injury
• stress
• lack of exercise
• diet
• seasonal changes/weather
• pathogens

These same things impact our bodies qi, yin, yang… and a few other things we talk about in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We can have too much of one, not enough of another, or a blockage causing pain. When we are not in balance, we start to see symptoms. These symptoms range from pain, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems and even sadness. Acupuncture and Herbal medicine work to fix these imbalances.

When you come for your first you should expect:

• a review of your health history.
• a discussion of you current symptoms.
• a physical exam when appropriate.

We then discuss what we view as the best treatment options to start with. If you choose to move forward with treatment, you will receive one that day. After needles are inserted, we let you rest for about 25 minutes to ensure maximum efficacy of the treatment.

Your first visit takes longer, expect about 60-90 minutes. This will depend on the length of concerns we discuss with you.

Follow up visits are typically about 45 minutes. While we can make this faster, taking your time is beneficial to the treatment. Try to schedule when you aren’t in a rush. If you are in a rush, please let us know so we can accommodate.