Acupuncture is one of the most popular alternative treatments for a variety of conditions. The majority of insurance companies cover acupuncture for chronic pain, as well as a number of other conditions. To learn more about how your personal insurance provider can work with our staff, please feel free to reach out to a patient care coordinator, who can streamline the inquiry process for you.

Acupuncture is considered to be one of the safest forms of medicine, with large studies showing no side effects and minimal risks. For individuals who have negative associations to the word “needle”, acupuncture may conjure up images of unpleasant experiences with blood draws and injections, when in fact nothing could be further from the actual experience in acupuncture. For starters, acupuncture needles are extremely thin, flexible, and hair-like, compared to the thick and hollow needles used for western medical procedures. Additionally, they are only positioned on the very outer surface of the skin, sitting atop it, rather than penetrating deep into the tissues of the body. As such, often people may feel almost nothing during insertion of the majority of their needles. At times, if there is blockage in an area, it may create a mild and dull feeling of discomfort when a needle is inserted. However, this feeling is nothing like the “prick” one experiences with injections. The feeling is fleeting and this is even minimized by a compassionate and well-trained acupuncture specialist.

Each segment of acupuncture session typically last for about 45 minutes. In the first appointment, this is preceded by a comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, which normally runs around 30 minutes to complete.

Acupuncture is a health practice that works cumulatively, over time. While most patients say they begin to feel relaxing and tension-relieving benefits starting with the first session, it may take semi-regular treatments over the course of several weeks before optimal results are achieved. In China, it is common that patients will see a Chinese doctor every other day for several months. This level of care is often not necessary for every client, and the schedule of treatment will be determined after consultation with a Chinese medical specialist. For certain individuals, treatment may take place once or twice a week, while for others who are experiencing acute symptoms, it may be necessary appointments more frequently until results begin to emerge.

Acupuncture is often described as a very relaxing form of treatment. While it can be performed in as little as fifteen minutes sitting upright in a chair, in certain specific cases, it is more commonly delivered on a massage table. Patients are encouraged to rest and relax during their session. Therefore, you may find it most comfortable to wear comfortable, loose clothing. However, even busy business professionals can receive treatment while in dress clothes.