Will insurance pay for my treatment?
I accept insurance for acupuncture patients. In order to best serve you, I can verify your insurance benefits before you arrive. Please click here and complete the online form. I will contact you as soon as the benefits are established.
It may take up to 48 hours to verify your coverage. If you need to know your acupuncture benefits sooner, you may contact me with your information or call your insurance provider directly.
Can I gift your services to someone?
Yes! You can purchase a virtual gift card here.
The recipient will receive a unique code via email. They should book an appointment normally, and show us their code (either on their phone or printed out) at our office when they arrive for treatment.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes. The needles we use are always sterilized, single-use, and disposable (it goes from a sterilized package to your body, and from your body to the trash). Most are thinner than a hair and they're usually made of stainless steel (though silver and gold needles can be used sometimes). Please mention any metal allergies during our intake meeting.
Does it hurt?
Sometimes patients feel nothing and are surprised to know the needle has been inserted, other times patients feel something like a mosquito bite. There can be a dull achy feeling around some needles when they're in – this is called the “qi” (pronounced chee) gathering at the point; it’s your body’s life energy being activated by that needle, which is a very positive response. If you have a fear of or are sensitive to needles, you can request a treatment done entirely with magnets and other non-insertive techniques.
Some patients and some needling locations are more sensitive than others, so it's important to tell your provider if something feels uncomfortable; needles can be adjusted or re-inserted when necessary.
Overall, treatments are usually relaxing and patients often fall asleep.
What should I expect from my first appointment?
You will be asked to fill out a short health history form and we will talk through your health concerns (about 15-30 minutes). If you prefer, you can complete the form via our website ahead of your visit, or you can print and fill it out at home to bring with you when you come. I will then diagnose and treat you accordingly.
Treatments usually take 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on what we're working on. After the treatment, we'll talk about your treatment plan and when you should come back again. You may also be given “homework”, such as paying attention to a certain symptom throughout the week.
What should I wear?
Something loose and comfortable. We will need access to your arms and lower legs as well as the torso, so wear shirts and pants that can be pulled up easily.
How should I prepare myself for my treatment?
Try to have a light meal before your treatment. It’s important that you've eaten something within 3 hours of your treatment, but don’t come overly full. We want you to be nourished but we don’t want your body’s full attention to be on digestion!
How long does it take to get better with acupuncture?
It depends on your specific condition and goal but on average, it takes 8-10 sessions to make significant and permanent change. However, you should be able to notice a difference after the first couple of treatments.
To get a better idea of how long it might take for your specific situation, you can schedule a free consultation.
What else is used besides needles?
There are many adjunctive techniques that may be used depending on your condition, such as:
- Cupping and Guasha: a type of bodywork that uses suction cups and massage tools to relieve muscle tension, break up knots, and detox. Cupping can also be used for congestion in the lungs with difficulty expectorating. Cupping and guasha can bring out some bruising, which fades away in about 4 days.
- Electro-acupuncture: additional stimulation of acupuncture points and muscles through a mild electric current.
- Moxibustion: stimulation of acupuncture points by burning small threads of moxa, or mugwort, which brings warmth to the area, relaxes tension, and improves circulation.
- Magnets: for those who are very needle aversive or for continued treatment at home, magnets can stimulate acupuncture points and can be very effective as well.
These will always be discussed with you first and practiced safely.
What kind of training does an acupuncturist have?
In Massachusetts, an acupuncturist needs to be licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine and nationally certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). In order to get those certifications, one needs an undergraduate education with science pre-requesites followed by 3-4 years of full-time, post-graduate education in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. That experience includes at least 1,000 hours of clinical experience and four semester courses on western pathology and pharmacology to teach students how acupuncture can be better integrated into our current health care system.
