Frequently Asked Questions

A common question, acupuncture needles are ultra-thin, sterile and used only once. As acupuncture needles are carefully and quickly inserted into therapeutic points on the body, they rarely cause discomfort. Upon insertion, patients often report feeling tingling, warmth, or heaviness – rarely pain. The benefits of acupuncture therapy are often felt immediately.

It's very likely that acupuncture can help you. Because Chinese Medicine focuses on the entire system of body/mind/spirit, acupuncture can effectively treat most conditions and imbalances. Many practitioners will advertise acupuncture for pain, acupupuncture for fertility, acupuncture for digestive issues, acupuncture for stress, acupuncture for anxiety and panic attacks, acupuncture for insomnia, and so on.

Research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), shows that the following conditions are effectively treated with acupuncture:

joint pain . heartburn . anxiety . limb pain . acid reflux . depression . back pain . abdominal pain . nervousness . sciatica . indigestion . panic attacks . disc problems . bloating . PTSD . arthritis . diarrhea . mood swings . sprains/strains . constipation . stress . sports injuries . appetite . nervousness . muscle cramps . IBS . cravings/addictions . fertility issues . headaches . asthma . irregular menses . migraines . immunity . PMS . neuralgia . weight loss menopause . MS . smoking cessation . uterine fibroids . Parkinson’s . addictions/withdrawal . ovarian cysts . bell’s palsy . blood pressure . libido . chronic pain . thyroid issues

Weekly treatments are common until an issue has cleared. Acute conditions are often treated in 1-4 visits, while chronic patterns may require 5-13 weekly sessions followed by monthly check-ins. Please call 917.519.2432 to discuss your concerns and together we will determine whether or not acupuncture is appropriate for you.

When administered by a qualified and licensed professional, acupuncture is extremely safe. Research shows that acupuncture has no adverse side-effects. Because individual sterile needles are disposed of after each use there is minimal to no risk of infection.

Please bring with you a completed Health History form -or- arrive 10 minutes early to the Tucson office to fill out the form. Allow for 120 minutes for the initial session. We will discuss your concerns, complaints and health history. I will ask to take your pulse, examine your tongue and gently palpate any areas of musculoskeletal tension or tenderness. Based on your presenting symptoms and treatment needs, I will offer massage, energy work, acupuncture and/or other forms of therapeutic support.

First, we’ll talk about what’s going on with you. if there are areas of pain or injury, I may conduct a gentle physical exam while you rest comfortably on a massage table. I often practice massage before starting the acupuncture session. I will insert approximately 1-16 sterile, disposable needles into different points on the body – often at the extremities like hands and feet or near joints like elbows and knees. You will rest with needles for approx. 20 minutes as the treatment takes effect. Some conditions benefit from specific massage protocols, moxibustion (heat therapy), cupping and/or guasha, in which case they will be utilized.

The number of sessions depends on the severity and duration of the condition and your state of wellbeing. Commonly, acute conditions take 1-4 sessions while chronic conditions can take between 5 – 13 treatments. Most people feel the benefits of one acupuncture treatment. Weekly treatments are suggested though some acute cases may require 2 treatments per week in the beginning. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect. As symptoms improve and holistic harmony is achieved, you are welcome to check-in every other week or monthly or less. We will discuss what is right for you.

Definitely. Chinese medicine is a comprehensive medical system that can address many health concerns on its own. It also works synergistically with western traditions and other healthcare modalities. Since I also utilize homeopathic and flower + gem essences, east meets west every day in my practice!

Theories in Chinese Medicine best explain how acupuncture works, as there exists a complex network of understanding of the natural world as it relates to the human body that does not directly translate in popular western terms. That said, research shows that acupuncture stimulates the body's innate mechanisms of healing and regulation. Acupuncture helps increase certain biochemicals and hormones and lowers others, as needed. It helps reduce local and systemic inflammation. It facilitates the flow of lymph and oxygen-rich blood and physically removes obstructions in the muscles, within and between organ systems, and the fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds single and grouped muscles, blood vessels, organs, and nerves – essentially, all structures of the body. The uninterrupted binding together of the superficial, deep, and visceral fascia around and through the entire body offers one (visible) roadmap that acupuncturists navigate. Research also demonstrates that acupuncture releases endorphins. A release of endorphins helps explain how acupuncture effectively treats pain and often facilitates a parasympathetic (rest/digest) response and feelings of deep relaxation. By offsetting the stress responses, the body has more of chance to recalibrate and function at optimal levels.

Modalities used in conjunction with acupuncture include Gua Sha, Cupping, Electro-Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, and Moxibustion. Gua Sha is the careful rubbing of the skin with a smooth ceramic spoon to relieve areas of stagnation. The skin may look red or purple after treatment and return to normal within 3-5 days. The result is healthy circulation of blood and a reduction of symptoms that are usually felt immediately. Cupping uses small rounded cups to create suction on different areas of the body. Similar to the technique of Gua Sha, cupping can be used for many conditions including upper and lower back pain and the common cold. Cupping can also draw purple marks to the surface of the skin for a few days. Auricular acupuncture involves the insertion of ultra-thin needles into different locations of the ears to stimulate appropriate reflexes and to invigorate the internal organs. Moxibustion is the careful, painless application of burning moxa (mugwort) to the tips of needles or areas of protected skin at specific acupuncture points to warm, make supple and tonify the area through the increased circulation of blood and Qi. I personally also integrate Cranial Sacral therapy, light massage or Tui Na, and intuitive healing methods which derive from my work as a counselor and my study of homeopathy, flower and gem essences. Because I often feel the emotional and physiological patterns of other people, I utilize this information in ways that enhance classic and contemporary traditions in acupuncture.

Receipts for acupuncture services rendered include appropriate diagnostic CD10 coding that can be submitted to insurance companies for reimbursement. Check with your health insurance provider in Tucson, AZ for coverage details.