Acupuncture Services
First session including heath consultation (60-90 minutes)......75
Follow up appointments (30-45 minutes)...... 60
Smoking Cessation (30-45 min)...... 30
Packages for multiple weekly visits:
2 sessions in one week......80
3 sessions in one week......90
Gua Sha (15-30 Minutes)........30
Cupping (15-30 Minutes) ........30
Acupuncture, though it has been developing in theory and practice for thousands of years, has recently
begun to receive much wider recognition in the West as a safe, effective, non-invasive, and drug-free
solution to an increasingly wide range of health care issues. Oriental Medicine has long practiced a
system of healing that holds as a central principle that when the body's functions are working in the
correct balance, it can flourish, maintain its structure, respond effectively to disease and stress, and
weather the changes of life with relative ease.
Acupuncture works by regulating the body's natural
functions, thus creating a more balanced environment within the body and stimulating the body's innate
capacity to heal itself without requiring dramatic procedures or concentrated pharmaceutical solutions
with a wide range of side-effects.
Acupuncture can be a great option for many people who have had difficulty getting relief by other
means. Because through acupuncture treatment the body is being stimulated to correct the issue within
the capacity of its own resources, it is often able to make the changes that are best suited for it without
being forcefully pulled in one direction or another. The body is an extremely complex environment,
but often all it needs is a gentle push in the right direction and it can begin to recover it's own natural
functions of self-regulation.
Basically, acupuncture helps create the right conditions; the body itself
does the healing. This can often result in relief that is extremely effective, long-lasting, and facilitative
of a greater state of overall health and well-being.
FAQ:
Acupuncture needles are incredibly thin and generally produce a minimal amount of discomfort upon
insertion. Most people report a momentary “bug bite” sensation that quickly fades into a dull, heavy
sensation at the needle site. Most needle insertions are extremely shallow, entering the skin only
fractions of an inch.
We use only pre-sterilized, single-use disposal stainless steel needles. There are no chemical,
analgesic, or medicinal substances on the needles at all – the simple presence of the needle itself is
enough to stimulate the body's natural response and trigger its innate healing mechanisms.
How long will it take to start feeling better?
This varies on a case by case basis. In some cases, especially in pain issues, the results of treatment
can begin during, or immediately following the first treatment. In other cases, often with longstanding
or physiological issues, the changes may only be minor at first but will increase over time with further
treatments as the body gradually modifies its function and establishes new, healthier patterns.
How long will it take to resolve my health challenges?
This is again, relative to each individual case. While some patients may find relief from 3-4
treatments, most patients require somewhere around 6-12 treatments to make significant changes.
Further follow up treatments may also be necessary to consolidate the improvements and prevent
relapse. While acute conditions may resolve within just a few visits, chronic conditions that have been
present for a long time may take many treatments over a longer time period to completely resolve.
How often will I need to come?
In most cases it is necessary to receive treatment 2-3 times per week for the first few weeks, until the
body begins to hold the changes more effectively on its own. As the condition improves, frequency of
treatment is then able to be reduced to gradually longer periods of 1 treatment per week/two
weeks/month, etc.
What can I expect during treatment?
Phil uses primarily systems of acupuncture that emphasize the areas between the elbows to the
fingertips and between the knees and toes. There is, therefore, rarely any need to disrobe. Once the
needles are inserted, most patients report a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. Many patients
fall asleep and feel uniquely rested and alert afterward. Often, patients will report tingling sensations
as the body regulates its function.
Will my insurance cover it?
This varies according to your insurance company and individual plan. While several insurance
companies have begun covering acupuncture treatments, others only offer coverage on a limited basis
or do not offer coverage at all. Please contact your insurance company directly to inquire whether
your plan offers coverage for acupuncture.
Help with Quitting Smoking
Acupuncture has been shown to significantly help control the cravings associated with quitting smoking and reduce the
desire to smoke. Receiving acupuncture during the sometimes turbulent process of quitting can help you remain more
composed in the face of cravings -- allowing you to follow through on your commitment to improve your health more easily
and comfortably. Chinese medical practices can also help your body reestablish healthy function so that you can get back
on track more quickly after you have smoked your last butt.
If you've been trying to quit, or even thinking about quitting... let us help you accomplish your goals!
The World Health Organization has compiled the following list of disorders for which acupuncture
has been shown to provide successful treatment.
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Acute bacillary dysentery
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Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
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Allergic rhinitis
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Biliary colic
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Depression
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Essential hypertension
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Headache
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Induction of childbirth and correction of the malposition of fetus
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Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the shoulder
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Leukopenia
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Nausea and vomiting including morning sickness
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Pain in the epigastrium, face, neck, tennis elbow, lower back, knee, during dentistry and after operations
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Primary dysmenorrhea
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Primary hypotension
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Renal colic
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Sciatica
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Sprains
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Strokes
What to expect from your acupuncture treatment
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine (generally thinner than the width of a human hair) and are therefore quite painless upon insertion.
Many people often report a dull, heavy sensation at the insertion site. Once the needles are inserted, most patients fall asleep easily and quickly,
while others will simply lapse into a deep state of relaxation. During this time, many patients will report a tingling sensation that travels throughout the body.
Needles are usually retained for about 20-30 minutes.
Phil mainly employs meridian focused systems of acupuncture, which can often produce instantaneous results. There is rarely a need to
disrobe and a minimal number of needles are used.
Other Chinese Medicine Healing
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a medical modality that has been practiced for thousands of years in China.
While it was initially regarded as “folk medicine” during the consolidation of Traditional Chinese Medicine that occurred during the
Cultural Revolution in China, the Chinese government later revised its assessment and began to expand its investigation into its health promoting
possibilities. It has since been promoted widely in China and throughout the East as a solution for everything from the common cold and
musculo-skeletal pain, to skin toning and even cancer prevention. Similar to acupuncture, the range of possible health benefits is
extremely wide with gua sha.
Through injury, tension, illness, organ imbalance, improper diet, or other causes, the circulation through our muscles, lipid layers, myofascial planes,
and skin can be inhibited, resulting in sub-optimal circulation. This can cause a build up of stagnant blood and
metabolites in these, and other tissues. When stagnant blood builds up, healthy blood flowcan be further inhibited, resulting in further stagnation.
Eventually, similarly to how a kink in a garden hose can cause an increase in pressure, the poor circulation and blood stagnation can
cause tissue adhesion, poor movement and pain. Gua Sha is essentially a massage technique that opens up the intercellular spaces,
promotes capillary blood flow, and releases stored toxins and stagnant blood from the tissues and muscles. When the stored toxins and
stagnant blood are finally freed from the tissues, healthy circulation is allowed to reach these areas and the body can heal more effectively.
The symptomatic relief from gua sha treatment can often be immediate and long-lasting.
Gua Sha treatment can produce some very distinctive markings on the skin, which are a result of the stagnant blood and stored metabolites being
released from the tissues. The markings only result when there is stagnant blood and inhibited circulation in the tissues. If
nothing needs to be released from the tissue, the skin usually just turns a light shade of pink and returns to normal within an hour or so after
treatment. The “sha” markings are an exceptionally good sign that the body needed some assistance and will benefit greatly from
the treatment, and though they can at times be somewhat dramatic, they will generally fade within 2-3 days. While these “sha” markings may
sometimes “look painful,” gua sha treatment is quite painless and most people remark that it is very relaxing.
Cupping
Cupping is often referred to as “negative pressure massage.” Fire is used to heat the air inside of glass cups which creates a momentary vacuum.
The cups are then applied to the skin, where the negative pressure can work to separate tissue adhesions and facilitate healthy blood flow to painful
areas of the body. This can help to relieve pain in the body and can promote the healing of injured areas.
Tui Na
Tui Na is Chinese therapeutic massage. The words “Tui Na” literally mean “pushing and grasping.” Various techniques are used to facilitate
proper movement and function of the meridians, which can be helpful for a number of conditions. Meridian points are emphasized in Tui Na treatment
and the results can often be dynamic and lasting. |
