Does acupuncture hurt? No, it really doesn’t hurt! Acupuncture needles are tiny, flexible and about the size of a hair – calling them needles is kind of stretching it. Most people are surprised to find that they don’t feel the needles at all, though occasionally you may feel a tiny pinch. Plus, most people are surprised to find that an acupuncture treatment is the most relaxing thing they’ve ever experienced. If you ever feel more than a tiny pinch, please let me know so I can remove or adjust the needle. I want you to be completely comfortable during your treatment – part of acupuncture’s magic results come from the deep relaxation it induces, and you can’t relax if you are bothered by a needle.
What can acupuncture treat? Because it enhances your body’s ability to regulate and heal itself, acupuncture is helpful for anything that your doctor says you’ll just have to live with. Here’s a list of things I regularly see people get help with from acupuncture: digestive disorders, anxiety, depression, fatigue, chronic pain, insomnia, migraines, PMS, menstrual cramps, menopausal symptoms, allergies, addictions, stress-related and autoimmune disorders.
How many treatments will I need? For most chronic health problems, committing to 4-6 weekly treatments to start with offers the best outcome. In that time, you should experience an improvement in your symptoms and overall well-being. Most people experience noticeably positive changes within a few treatments, and many notice a difference after the first treatment. At the 4th treatment, we will assess your progress discuss where to go from there.
For women’s health issues such as PMS, heavy bleeding, irregular periods, the best plan is weekly treatments until symptoms are alleviated, and then monthly treatments to maintain. I find that women often see a big improvement in their cycles after 4 weekly treatments.
What does it cost? $70 per one-hour treatment. I am flexible regarding rate for people who benefit from coming in regularly for acupuncture (typically people with chronic pain and other chronic health issues) but can’t swing the $70 rate, and for people who benefit from frequent treatments (acute ailments respond well to multiple treatments per week).
Do you take insurance? I don’t do insurance billing, but I will be happy to provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company. You can also use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for acupuncture.
What forms of payment do you accept? Cash, personal check, credit card.
What can I expect on my first visit? Come a little early to fill out some simple paperwork. Then we’ll sit down and talk about your goals for treatment and all the relevant details around the issues at hand. This conversation will take 15 or so minutes, during which I’ll feel your pulses (I’m feeling for different things than your primary care doc does!) and look at your tongue.
Then you’ll lie down on a comfortable massage table and I’ll insert the needles, usually on your head, ears, arms, legs, and sometimes on your back and/or belly, Don’t worry, people are always surprised to find that it doesn’t hurt, and that acupuncture is deeply relaxing. It’s best to wear shorts or stretchy pants that roll up easily, because I usually want to do points around your knees. You may also need to remove or pull up your top so that I can put needles and cups on your back. We usually leave the needles in for 20-30 minutes – sometimes I’ll stay with you, when we are also doing hypnotherapy or Reiki, and other times I’ll leave you to rest quietly. Most people find that they feel deeply relaxed during their treatment, and often fall asleep. I always suggest that you set an intention at the beginning of a treatment – an acupuncture treatment is a wonderful opportunity to tap your inner wisdom and intuition for insight into questions that are puzzling you, and you never know what will bubble up! Also, it is best if you can schedule your treatment so that you can relax afterwards, rather than rushing back to a busy, stressful day – for that reason, I offer evening appointments.
What sets you apart from other acupuncturists? I think eclectic and integrative would best describe my practice. I was trained in the Japanese acupuncture tradition, which is generally much gentler than the Chinese tradition, and I feel more appropriate for American clients. My Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine degree program in California included intensive training in the rich Chinese herbal tradition that stretches back thousands of years – it always awes me to remember that I am giving my clients herbal treatments that have been proven useful for thousands of years. I also use modern knowledge of nutrition and supplements to complement these ancient herbal remedies. I am also certified as a clinical hypnotherapist and Reiki master, and incorporate this experience into practice.
Why do you look at my tongue? Your tongue can give me a very good idea of what’s generally going on, what acupuncture points I should use, what herbs will be most helpful. If the tongue is pale, I think deficiency of some sort, and if it’s deep red or purple, I’m thinking what we call an “excess” condition such as heat or stagnation.
What do you feel in my pulse? In Chinese medicine, we feel the pulse at three locations on the wrist, basically three fingers on each side. On the left wrist, I feel the heart on the first finger, then the liver, then the kidney yin. On the right wrist, I feel the lung, spleen and kidney yang.
Have other questions? Email them to me at abba@abbaanderson.com!
