Frequently Asked Questions

What is a treatment like?

All visits start with a check in to see how you are doing- changes in symptoms, questions, or new concerns. The treatment itself involves lying on a massage table. We will usually check your pulses and have a look at your tongue, these being very useful diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. We may do further palpation. Then we insert the needles, put on some relaxing music and leave the room. We may check in with you after 15 minutes or so. For most patients, the needles are in for about 25-30 minutes. After removing the needles we do a brief check in, give you your herbs if you are in need of any and send you on your way. Most patients find the experience to be very relaxing and enjoyable.

Does it hurt?

We can thank modern manufacturing technology for changing the experience of acupuncture. The main needle we use is 0.16 of a millimeter thick. As a comparison, human hair varies between 0.04 and 0.25 millimeters in thickness, so you can see we are talking about a very thin needle. The sensation is totally different from getting an injection or a flu shot. Even our most needle-phobic patients find within a visit or two that they become very relaxed during the treatment; it’s not unusual for people to fall asleep while the needles are in.

Will my insurance cover acupuncture?

Many insurance plans offer acupuncture coverage. We can check for you, and we offer full insurance billing services for our patients.

Are the needles sterile?

We use only pre-sterilized, single use, disposable needles.

How long does it take?

We generally do a comprehensive health history during the first visit so it usually takes longer than subsequent visits. We will also have you fill out some paperwork before your first visit which takes most people 10-15 minutes- if you like you can download this from our website, just click on the “forms” tab, and fill them out before you arrive. In general, initial treatments take about one hour and fifteen minutes including the paperwork and the treatment itself, while follow-up visits take about an hour.