Why would I want to have an acupuncture treatment?

Here are a few responses to a question that may have hundreds of
answers...

• to help you relax
• to help you feel more energized
• to help you avoid illness/injury
• to help alleviate physical pain
• to help you think more clearly
• to help you stop thinking (especially around bedtime)
• to help with digestive issues including GERD and IBS
• to use alongside many conventional therapies/medications for the purpose of augmenting their effect and lowering doses
• to add legitimate choices for your health care assistance

As acupuncture is part of a whole and logical medical system, there is almost always an approach for an acupuncturist to take for helping to manage a health problem - or even better, help you to remain pain and illness free.

In 1979, the World Health Organization published a short list of conditions seen as appropriate for treatment with acupuncture. This is not a complete list of conditions appropriate for treatment, but just some examples.

The list includes:

How much does an acupuncture treatment hurt?

Usually not much at all. Most people are deeply relaxed and/or asleep once all points are placed.

What's the difference between a visit to a typical acupuncture practice and a community acupuncture practice?

Most acupuncture treatments in the United States take place on a table in a room by oneself. This is not traditional in Asia, where acupuncture usually occurs in a community setting. We all know the value of 'power in numbers', right? Would you prefer to eat in an empty restaurant, or one that is full of people and bustling?  Or how about an empty movie theater? Us too!

A healthy group setting creates a dynamic that can be used for all of our benefit in an acupuncture clinic. Receiving treatment in a community setting has other tangible benefits, as well: it’s easier for friends and family members to come in for treatment together and many patients find it a relief to not be isolated during their treatment.

In addition, the community setting allows patients to decide how long their treatment will take, as the 'right' amount of time varies from person to person, visit to visit. This can take anywhere from twenty minutes to a couple of hours. You can stay as long as you feel comfortable doing so – or until we close for the day! When you are feeling as though you are ready to end your visit, or need to get our attention, just give us a wink, nod or smile, and we will remove your needles or be available otherwise.

Lastly, our clinic employs a sliding scale fee schedule to help make acupuncture available to the whole community.

What happens during an initial visit?

You'll need to fill out forms which can take a few minutes to finish, so please come 20 minutes early to complete them. Or, you can download these forms and have them filled out as best you can for your visit ahead of time.  This helps support us, since it reduces the amount of paper shuffling on our end. The forms are in PDF format.

There is a $10 one-time consultation fee due at your first visit.

After paperwork is done, you'll then consult with your acupuncturist to discuss your health concern(s) after which time a treatment plan will be recommended for you. Your acupuncture treatment comes next.

Please wear comfortable clothing. You'll just have to roll your sleeves and pant legs up, in order to get ready for your treatment, as we use styles of acupuncture which allows us to select points primarily on the arms and legs.

What happens during a typical follow-up treatment?

After paying for the visit and scheduling future visits (if needed) our patients will bring themselves into the treatment room on their own and make themselves comfortable in a recliner of their choice. After a brief conversation between patient and practitioner, pulses at the wrist and neck are taken. Depending on a variety of factors, a specific point prescription is selected. Typically after this time people feel very sleepy and will nap for a while.

How does it work/what is it really doing?

This is the million dollar question. The answer is - there is most likely no one answer. Whether seen as a result of particular chemical/hormonal processes, movement of bio-electricity, vascular excitement, regulation of the central nervous system, connective tissue communication, 'placebo' effect, positive thinking or the manifestation of qi, acupuncture works.

What can I expect after a treatment?

In general, you can expect to feel relaxed for several hours following an acupuncture treatment. Reactions specific to particular injuries or health concerns should be addressed by the acupuncturist on an individual basis.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept, cash, check, Visa & MasterCard.

We do not accept insurance coverage, but would be happy to offer a receipt for your visit so you may submit it directly.

Do keep in mind the cost of an acupuncture treatment here at MAS can be substantially less than a discounted rate on a typically-priced acupuncture visit - or even a typical insurance co-pay.

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If it turns out you have more questions you'd like answered - and you aren't alone by a long shot! - skip over to read a free version of our wawrd-winning book 'Why Did You Put That Needle There?'