Frequently Asked Questions


What can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine can potentially treat any condition that does not require emergency care or hospitalization. We treat both acute and chronic conditions, as well as provide preventative care.

How does acupuncture work?
Simply stated, from a biomedical perspective, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system and produces changes in blood chemistry that facilitate the body’s ability to heal itself.

Are you able to work with other doctors and health professionals?
Oriental medicine can be integrated into almost any existing treatment plan. It’s best if we can communicate with other care providers to coordinate the treatment strategy.

How many treatments will a patient need?
Each case is unique. Generally, chronic conditions require more treatments to resolve, and acute problems respond more quickly. Though we often notice significant results after the first session, the average treatment course is about 6 -12 sessions.

How often do patients need to come for treatment?
This also depends on the nature of the pain or illness. Usually new patients will come one to three times per week until the condition is stabilized, and then the frequency of visits will taper after that. Preventative, or maintenance visits are usually once or twice per month, or seasonal.

How do you use herbal medicine?
The use of herbal medicine complements the acupuncture treatment. While acupuncture balances the energetics of the body, the herbs directly address biochemistry. Herbs from our pharmacy are either administered as commercially prepared products (tablets, pills, tinctures, etc.), concentrated extract powders, or raw herbs that are cooked as a tea. All products in our pharmacy are GMP certified (Good Manufacturing Process), which ensures their purity.

Are you able to treat people with a fear of needles?
Acupuncture is just one of many modalities within Oriental medicine. We also provide herbs, orthopedic massage (Tui-Na), heat therapy, cupping, and nutritional counseling. That said, most of our patients who are afraid of needles are surprised to find that acupuncture is not as painful as they anticipated.

Does the patient have to believe in acupuncture for it to work?
What we are talking about here is the placebo effect. Research has shown that believing a treatment will be effective enhances its success, no matter what the modality. Interestingly, veterinary acupuncture is effective on animals, who have no reasonable expectation of treatment outcomes. Most of our skeptical patients still experience relief.

What is the cost of treatment?
Our clinic offers a remarkable value for your healthcare. There is no charge for the first consultation and treatment. Subsequent visits are $20-30. The cost for herbal medicine ranges from about $8-25 per week, depending on the ingredients.