FAQ's
How should I prepare for my acupuncture treatment?
You should eat a small meal or snack prior to your appointment. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and be able to comfortably pull your pants to your knees. Please inform me if you have a pacemaker, are on blood thinners, are pregnant or trying to conceive. Also bring all of your prescription medications and supplements with you to the first appointment. I want to see the bottles to check all of the ingredients.
Do the needles hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very thin (a little thicker than hair). There may be a sensation of warmth, heaviness or an electric sensation after the needles are inserted. The needles are typically left in place for 15-30 minutes depending on your diagnosis.
How many treatments do I need?
It is extremely important to remember that acupuncture and laser both have a cumulative effect just like excercise. It takes time to get in shape. The number of treatments varies from person to person. Important factors include the duration and severity of your health conditions as well as consistency of treatments. Two to three treatments may be sufficient to treat an acute condition (tweaked your back), yet a series of 8-15 treatments may be necessary to resolve a chronic condition. Other factors that affect treatment results are diet and lifestyle outside of the clinic. Normally I will see you once a week for 4 weeks then we will re-evaluate where we are at and where you want to be.
How are acupuncture points chosen?
Acupuncture points exist all over your entire body, each point serving a different purpose. I will look at your current symptoms as well as the underlying problem to determine the best points. It is quite common to be afraid of needles so I will explain exactly what I am doing each step of the way. I mostly use points on the arms, legs, hands and feet with the occasional need for you to change into a hospital gown for specific points on the back and hip area. Your modesty and comfort level is always taken into account and I am very flexible if you feel more comfortable not removing clothes. That is not a problem.
What will I feel after treatment?
The majority of patients feel very relaxed afterward, however this can vary from patient to patient. Occasionally people may feel dizzy or nauseous in which case you should notify me. Should this occur, drink a glass of water or eat a small snack with sugar and typically it passes very quickly.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance. You will be provided with a fee sheet on request to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. We only accept cash, credit cards and most health spending accounts or flexible spending accounts.
Hopefully one day in the near future we will all be allowed to go to whomever we choose to pursue better health using insurance.
Is there a missed/cancellation policy?
When you schedule an appointment with us we set aside a block of time just for you. If you need to change an appointment we require at least 24 hours notice to be given otherwise the full exam fee will be charged.
If you are a new patient to the practice and miss your first appointment and do not call the office you will not be able to reschedule. There is usually a wait list to get in for an appointment so if you cannot make your appointment please be considerate and let us know then someone else can take your appointment slot.