Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a vital part of Chinese medicine, the oldest system of health care we know. It regulates the body's ability to heal through the stimulation of different sites on the body with a very fine needle. The results include specific and measurable chemical, electrical and functional changes. For the patient, that response produces decreasing symptoms that last for increasingly longer amounts of time.

Acupuncture is an extremely safe therapeutic procedure. Our experience, training and remaining current in the profession ensure you are being given the best care possible. Your safety and well-being is our primary concern. We use the highest-quality disposable equipment available. We encourage our patients to continue all current treatments, therapies and medications as advised by their physician.

We understand why most of our patients seek help from The Acupuncture Clinic. Typically, they are using acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to enhance the health care they are receiving or because standard therapies, medications and treatments have been ineffective. Others are seeking a more natural treatment as a way to regain control of their own health. Whatever your reason might be we will treat you the way we like to be treated ourselves. Your case will be approached in a sensible and practical way. We will start with a treatment-trial to determine if acupuncture will work for you. As the treatments progress a cumulative response should be realized, with subsequent treatments scheduled accordingly. Today more people than ever seek help from acupuncture because it:

During your first visit you will learn if acupuncture is an appropriate treatment for your condition. A specific number of treatments will be recommended to serve as a trial to determine if your case will respond to acupuncture. You will also have a clear understanding of ways to assess your progress and when to expect results.

During a typical treatment you will experience minute disposable needles being gently inserted into the skin at specific sites on the body. Because they are extremely thin you will usually only feel a slight sensation. Occasionally either manual rotation or electrical stimulation generating a soft, painless current is applied to add additional stimulation. Your treatment will typically last between 20-30 minutes. Often, a feeling of pleasant relaxation or general well-being follows a treatment.

The number of treatments that you will need will vary according to your condition. One or two treatments may be sufficient for some acute conditions. Chronic problems usually require a longer treatment period with results not evident until after a few treatments. Acupuncture treatments produce a cumulative effect with time, so you will be able to increase the duration of time between visits as the results build.

This varies with the individual. Initially the results are short-lived and subtle. Subsequent treatments should provide longer-lasting and greater degrees of improvement. The response will accelerate as the treatments progress. Will acupuncture cure my problem? The treatments themselves do not cure a condition. They can, however, help a patient heal a condition by stimulating the patient's natural mechanism for healing.

Nutritional, herbal and other therapies are often recommended as a way of enhancing the treatment. We will often recommend adjunctive therapies to enhance your care that include therapeutic massage or acupressure with one of our experienced therapists, participation in group events that range from acupressure training to Tai-Chi Chuan exercise, nutritional support or Chinese herbal formulas.

No. We do, however, guarantee that we will try our best to help you. We also will treat you the way we would like to be treated ourselves. We will always tell you if we don't think we can help you.

Absolutely! We protect you as well as we protect ourselves.

We will recommend a schedule of treatments that will provide the fastest response. The frequency varies by the case. As our patients are feeling better, they are expected to increase the time between visits. This process is continued until there is no longer a need for treatment, or until maximum improvement is realized.

This varies with each case. Fortunately, in a relatively short time patients are able to discern if the treatments are effective . At that point there should be greater improvement noted that lasts for longer periods of time. Since our patients schedule their treatments on an as-needed basis, they are able to increase the amount of time between visits.

Acupuncture does not block pain. It relieves it. This explains why it usually takes a few visits for the results to manifest.

While some insurance carriers recognize acupuncture, others still do not. We encourage patients to check with their individual policy first.

Herbs are an essential part of Chinese medicine. Often, herbal formulas are recommended to facilitate the results of treatment. We use the safest and the highest-quality formulas available. All of our products have been tested and meet the strictest biological, ecological and environmental standards.

No. As our patients realize results from the treatments, they are able to add more time between treatments until they stop needing treatment or have reached maximum medical improvement. Some patients do find that they need an occasional treatment to boost the treatment results if activities or time cause the condition to return or increase.

Our experience, training and expertise in the field of acupuncture sets us apart! We have a unique way of blending the qualities of traditional Chinese medicine, which has a 5,000-year history, with modern acupuncture techniques and equipment into a contemporary treatment style.
Our exceptional education, decades of clinical experience and professional work that includes research, writing and teaching add a dimension of skills that helps our patients get well.

The initial visit is $150. That price includes the initial work-up and treatment. Subsequent visits are $80. Our smoking program consists of three visits and the total price is $310.00. We do not have hidden fees and gladly accept Visa and MasterCard.