The following are some commonly asked questions about Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture.
What Are Your Office Policies ?
What Happens During An Acupuncture Treatment?
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
How Do I Prepare For My Acupuncture Visit?
What Are Your Office Policies?
All patients are seen by appointment only. Should you need to re-schedule your appointment, you can reach the office during regular hours on Tuesday through Friday to change your appointment time or date. We respectfully request 24 hours notice for any cancellations.
If you are unable to make a scheduled appointment, please inform our office as soon as possible, so that we may free up your time slot for other patients and so that we may reschedule your appointment for a new time that is better for you.
Please click here to make your appointment appointments@acuwellcenter.com
Office Hours:
Office Hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Insurance:
A growing number of insurance companies now have Acupuncture benefits. Please call your insurance provider to verify Acupuncture benefits prior to you visit. If you are submitting your treatments for insurance, payment is due upon completion of each visit; we will provide you with the necessary receipt for you to file your claim. Chinese herbs are not covered under any insurance plan. We have never had any issues with processing payments from HAS or FSA credit/debit cards.
If you do have coverage for Acupuncture, there are 2 questions you want to ask to ensure your visits will be covered:
- Are services covered if Acupuncture is provided by a licensed Acupuncturist?
- Are there any diagnoses that are or are not covered by your plan?
Payment Methods:
Payment is due at the time of service. We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, checks, or cash. A $25 bank fee will be charged on all returned checks.
Confidentiality:
Patient confidentiality as required by state law is maintained at all times.
Cancellation Policy:
Please be aware that the full fee for services will be charged for missed appointments unless 24 hours notice is given.
Acupuncture is a form of medicine practiced for over 4,000 years. The basic principle of Acupuncture, which is one modality of treatment of Oriental Medicine, is to realign and rebalance the energy in the body. Just as a Chiropractor realigns and rebalances your skeletal system, and a massage therapist helps to realign and rebalance your muscular system, an Acupuncturist realigns and rebalances the energy systems in your body. There are 14 main meridian pathways in your body through which energy flows. These Meridian pathways have been compared to rivers, that bring life-giving water to the land, animals and people who live near them. Within your meridian pathways flow life-giving energy, or Qi (pronounced chee) to every cell, tissue, muscle, and organ in your body. An obstruction in your meridian system can be caused by an injury (trauma), lack of movement, and/or deficiencies or over-abundance of dietary intake.
An obstruction of Qi-flow in your body is like a dam in a river, or a traffic jam on an interstate. If Qi becomes “backed-up” in a particular meridian, there then becomes an accumulation of Qi in that area, which can cause pain. An accumulation of Qi in one area of your body can lead to a depletion of Qi-flow in another area. A deficiency of Qi can lead to fatigue, weakness, or depression. This imbalance of Qi throughout your system will lead to pain, a lack of well-being, or if severe enough or left out of balance for too long, disease.
It is the objective of Acupuncture to optimize, or in some instances, restore the balance of energy throughout your body. This is accomplished by placing needles into specific acupuncture points, which either dispersing or eliciting Qi.
The acupuncture needle is very thin and is NOT hollow.
The type of needle used in Western medicine is a hypodermic needle that is hollow and designed to displace tissue in order to inject or remove fluid. The type of needle used in Acupuncture is thin, and the approximate width of a strand of hair; many find little or no pain or blood associated with their Acupuncture treatment. Most patients describe the sensation as a slight sting or prick that only lasts a moment.
What Happens During An Acupuncture Treatment?
During your initial Acupuncture treatment, a comprehensive intake is done, during which past and present medical history, general health and current complaint are discussed. Pulse and tongue diagnosis, along with appropriate physical examination are also done prior to treatment. Once the imbalances of Qi are identified, sterile, one-time use needles are inserted into specific points along the related meridian pathway(s).
With the insertion of the needles, messages are relayed to various related pathways in the meridian system to enable Qi to freely circulate throughout the body, reestablishing adequate nourishment to cells, tissue, organs, and muscles in your body. This realignment of energy will restores and eventually optimize balance and harmony within your body.
Your initial visit will be 6o minutes, and include a consultation, examination, along with tongue and pulse diagnosis. Acupuncture visits will be entirely treatment-focused, lasting from 40-50 minutes.
Other modalities that may be part of your treatment are Tui Na (Chinese Massage), Cupping, Moxibustion, and Auriculotherapy.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments needed vary from person to person.
Depending on the duration and severity of the imbalance, some patients receive immediate relief, while others may need a series of treatments. Chronic (existing 3 months or longer) conditions tend to require more treatments than acute ones. Most patients require a minimum of one month to feel significant changes.
The frequency of treatment depends on a variety of factors. The Acupuncturist may suggest one to three treatments per week, or one treatment a month for a “maintenance” phase of health care.
How Do I Prepare For My Acupuncture Visit?
To get the most benefit from treatments avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages the day of treatment and for at least 24 hours afterwards. Similarly avoid strenuous exercise before and after treatments. Eat at least a small meal or snack within 3 hours of your appointment, dress in loose fitting, comfortable clothing for easy access to your forearms, and lower legs. You can brush your teeth, but do not brush your tongue before your visit. Bring a list of all medication and supplements you are currently taking.
