What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves the insertion and manipulation of needles in the body to help restore the free movement of qi (vital energy). When our qi is able to move smoothly, it animates our interconnecting parts, encourages natural processes to flow, and brings forth the vibrancy and spirit that we recognize as expressions of good health.

What can acupuncture help with? 

Almost anything. I've seen great results when helping people with regulating their nervous systems, addressing chronic muscle tension, assisting with injury or surgery recovery, supporting metabolism and digestion, and investigating and resolving many symptoms that manifest with mental, emotional, and physical stress.

Acupuncture is also a beautiful tool for self-discovery, as receiving acupuncture promotes a layered awareness of one’s body, mind, and spirit.

How many treatments will I need?

The effects of acupuncture and Chinese medicine are cumulative. At the beginning, I will often recommend 3-5 weekly sessions, so we can let your body take in new information, and I can learn about you and how you generally respond to treatments. This foundation will allow us to clarify what health goals to prioritize, and what frequency of treatment will best support that.

Sometimes, one to three treatments can almost completely resolve an acute condition. Conditions that are more chronic in nature will require a longer period of regular treatments. Once we’ve seen significant improvement to a chief complaint, it is appropriate to reduce the frequency of treatments as preventative care or to prepare for natural stressors such as big life changes and transitions. For some, the resolution of a chief complaint may open up the space and awareness to explore other areas of imbalance through Chinese medicine.

Does acupuncture hurt?

The answer varies. Some people hardly feel the needles, while others register some pain with needle insertion. For everyone, the initial feelings of sharpness or pinching should quickly subside, otherwise needles will be adjusted or removed.

Aside from the initial pinch, there are a variety of sensations that one might feel during an acupuncture session. These sensations have been described as heavy, radiating, moving, tingling, warming, cooling, and relaxing. Typically, these sensations are brief and subtle. In some instances, the sensations will be more obvious, as with an intentional muscle twitch to promote the release of muscle tension.

How will I feel right after an acupuncture session?

Some people feel relaxed and pleasantly tired after a session, as if they’ve experienced a period of deep sleep and are prepared for more rest. Others feel uplifted, as if their energy has been replenished. The response can change from session to session.

When working with habitually contracted muscles, it’s possible that these local areas will feel sore and heavy immediately after the session before feeling relieved of chronic tension.

What is Chinese herbal medicine?

Chinese herbal medicine focuses on the combination of herbs (typically roots, barks, leafy plant matter, fruits, and seeds) to create herbal formulas. While individual herbs can be effective in increasing available nutrition, activating parts of the gastrointestinal system, balancing the chemical makeup of blood, cooling the heat of inflammatory responses, enhancing the absorption of fluid, re-circulating retained water or blood, and fighting bacterial and viral loads, herbal formulas are complex combinations of such herbs and their actions, designed to deliver the necessary antidote to an imbalance while acting preventatively to avoid creating a new imbalance in the process.

How do I take Chinese herbal medicine?

I often prescribe Chinese herbs in the form of powdered herbs in gelatin capsules. Alternatively, I will prescribe granules — decocted herbs processed with a dry substrate that can then be rehydrated into a tea-like beverage.

In terms of how to integrate Chinese herbs into your life, the approach is notably different from many Western pharmaceutical interventions. In some instances, an herbal formula is taken regularly for months, particularly when the replenishment of energy and substance is needed. For many, the right herbal formula will inspire change within weeks or even days, thereby pointing to a new set of therapeutic needs and, if appropriate, a new herbal formula. Like acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine is rooted in principles of change and transformation, so by nature this medicine resists creating dependency on one herbal formula or any one kind of treatment.

Do you accept insurance?

No, but some insurance plans will reimburse partial or full costs of acupuncture services. If you think your insurance plan covers out-of-network acupuncture treatments, I can provide a superbill that you can use to file a claim for reimbursement. Acupuncture also qualifies as an eligible medical expense for FSA, HRA, and HSA.

What forms of payment do you accept?

I accept payment by cash and credit card.

Can I give a session as a gift?

Yes, you can purchase gift cards here. They will be sent electronically to the recipient, and they have no expiration date.