What should I wear to a treatment?

Aka, will I have to undress? Patients should wear normal clothes and especially undergarments to preserve modesty. Modesty is, of course, always an important consideration. That said, effective treatment often requires needling/cupping/gua sha on the legs, arms, back and torso.

If clothing needs to be removed, I provide treatment gowns, and other materials for draping, if necessary.  While wearing a gown, men should wear underwear. Women should wear underwear and a bra, preferably a bra that can be undone in the back. This is helpful in case access to the patient’s back is necessary. Loose pants that can be pulled up as high as your knees and sleeves that can be pulled up to your elbows is useful to avoid wearing a gown.
Zero Balancing is performed fully clothed, it is preferable to avoid bulky clothes or multiple layers.  

Can acupuncture fix/cure (fill in the blank)?

This is probably the most frequently asked question of acupuncturists. The answer is “very possibly.” Understandably, most people want more certainty than that. Acupuncturists would like to be able to give more certain answers. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine, and it can address many health issues. However, giving a definitive answer without a thorough medical history and physical exam is impossible and frankly rather unethical. Every individual is different in their conditions and how they respond to treatment. With a medical history and physical exam I can give some predictions. After 2-4 treatments a clear prognosis is often possible. I sorely wish I could give more definite answers. Predicting acupuncture results can be difficult because we are tapping into natural and individual healing mechanisms. That individuality is actually one of the distinct advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I am happy to give a free 20 minute consultation over the phone or in person, where I can provide more personalized answers. 

How many treatments will it take to fix (fill in the blank)?

This is probably the second most frequently asked question of acupuncturists. The short, but honest, answer is “It’s difficult to say.”
The long answer is the same, but with nuance. It’s difficult, nearly to the point of being unethical, to give an answer to this question without a thorough history, exam, and a perhaps few treatments. With a medical history and physical exam I can give some predictions. After 2-4 treatments a clear prognosis is often  possible. I sorely wish I could give a more definite answer. Every acupuncturist wishes they could give a more definite answer. However, every individual is different in their conditions and how they respond to treatment.  Predicting acupuncture results can be difficult because we are tapping into natural and individual healing mechanisms. That individuality is actually one of the distinct advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I am happy to give a free 20 minute consultation over the phone, or in person, where I can provide more personalized answers.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

There is sometimes a small amount of pain, but it depends. That’s the honest answer. Firstly, acupuncture needles are much thinner than hypodermic needles which doctors use to inject substances into the body. Acupuncture needles are only a bit thicker than human hair, so acupuncture needling is nothing like hypodermic injections.

With needling, sometimes there is little-to-no sensation; other times there is brief stinging pain, and/or referred pain. Those sensations usually last only a few seconds.  
Electro-stim acupuncture can make the muscles contract quickly, which makes some sensation, but isn’t usually painful.
The vast majority of patients find the small amount of pain to be more than worth the positive results.
Dry needling… Yeah, that’s another story. Dry needling is remarkably effective at resolving musculo-skeletal issues. It elicits a strong muscle twitch response. It’s also rather painful. Generally, athletes and people in severe pain are willing to receive dry needling to get the positive results. Dry needling isn’t always necessary, and I never do dry needling without getting specific consent for that procedure from the patient. 

How does Acupuncture Work?

Oh boy. That’s a great question. It’s not a simple question to answer. There is considerable debate of what the exact mechanism(s) of acupuncture are. I believe the best way to look at this question is to offer 2 points of view, traditional concepts and modern ideas.
The ancient philosophy of Classical Oriental Medicine is based on the worldview and observations of Taoist philosophers and physicians. The simple way to explain it is the common idea that acupuncture balances qi (energy) flowing in meridians. This is a common English interpretation of ancient Oriental concepts, and it’s a decent way to understand it. However, it’s not the most accurate way to look at it. Understanding these concepts at a deeper level requires much study and experience. I would say the ancient explanation is that acupuncture adjusts metabolism, structural issues, and mental frameworks to activate innate human healing mechanisms.
The modern view is based on research and is still being intensely debated. I find the most compelling idea to be that needling affects the nerves through the various layers contact with fascia. There is evidence that the meridians describe meta-functions or meta-structures of metabolism that include the fascia, nerves, vasculature, and intercellular fluids. For example, there is scientific evidence that the proteins and fluids found in areas of the body that align with the ancient Stomach Meridian are related modern ideas of stomach function.  The wisdom of ancient physicians, who had keen powers of observation, is being validated by modern research. All of which makes this an exciting time for acupuncture practitioners and patients. I am thoroughly convinced of the effectiveness of acupuncture, and the accuracy of ancient descriptions of the mind-body complex. If anyone wants to have a philosophical discussion about all this, I’m happy to talk about it. 

Do you take insurance?

I do not currently take insurance. I am always reevaluating that, and I will update this website immediately if that changes.

I can provide a superbill for patients to submit to their health insurance company, which some companies will accept.

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is very safe, especially when compared to other medical modalities. There are some risks and potential side effects, as with any treatment modality. The risks and side effects are statistically quite rare and usually not serious. There is occasionally bruising, very small amounts of bleeding, and short recurrences of old symptoms.
The serious risks are related to organ puncture, particularly a punctured lung which leads to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). That is occurrence is extremely rare, in fact the vast majority of acupuncturists never cause a pneumothorax in their entire career. Acupuncturists in Colorado are required to have thousands of hours of classroom and clinical training, and we take safe needling technique seriously.  The risk-to-benefit ration of acupuncture and Classical Oriental Medicine is highly weighted to the benefit side of the ratio.

“I absolutely HATE needles! Can you treat me without needles?”

Yes, I have many non-needle techniques and modalities I can use. I have treated patients without using needles with good success. If a patient comes in for treatment and is unwilling to be needled, I will never pressure the patient to be needled.

In the interest of full disclosure, there are some conditions that may require needling for the most effective results.

What should I expect after treatment?

Usually people feel good, relaxed, and/or energized after treatment. The first treatment, in particular, can cause some temporary side effects like tiredness, recurrence of past symptoms (strange, but true), or shift in emotional state. Those are temporary and actually a good sign of shifts in unhealthy patterns.

It’s best to avoid doing anything strenuous or out of your normal routine directly after a treatment. Also avoid temperature extremes like cold baths/plunges and/or hot baths/saunas. Other than that, activities that are part of your regular routine are generally fine.