FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Your Concerns Answered

Yes! It has been used for well over 3000 years to help billions of people to get well and stay healthy, without drugs and surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that acupuncturists follow strict safety guidelines and use only sterile, nontoxic needles that are labeled for single use only.

Naturally, people associate needle pain with their past experience with hypodermic needles. You can fit close to 10 acupuncture needles inside the tip of one hypodermic needle. Acupuncture needles are tiny, thin and flexible, about the size of a cat’s whisker. Once the needles are inserted, some patients may experience a mild tingling or a sensation of fullness, along with an increased sense of relaxation. These are all quite normal and suggest that the treatment is working.

Each patient is different. Generally if a condition is more acute, patients respond faster than if it has been a chronic condition. Your practitioner will help determine the duration of time it will take to see significant changes in your health. They may suggest a specific number of treatments per week, monthly visits for health maintenance and/or seasonal “tune ups.”

The first time visit includes a consult to develop an individualized plan, as well as your first treatment. Your treatment may include any combination of TCM techniques, based on your unique needs and according to your practitioner’s expert opinion.

The first time visit is 1.5 hours. Follow-up visits are one hour.

It is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing. You will be asked to remove your socks and shoes once you are in your treatment room. Also, remember to eat something before your appointment! We have protein bars available for purchase if you arrive on an empty stomach.

Currently, we have a contract with the Veterans Administration to accept VA patients with a referral. We do not accept any other insurance at this time. However, some insurance companies will reimburse the patient for acupuncture. So, call your insurance agent to find out if they cover Acupuncture.

We accept cash, checks, and credit cards – including Health Saving Accounts (MasterCard, Visa, Discover).

Not everyone practicing acupuncture has the same training. In the state of Ohio, doctors and chiropractors can practice acupuncture with weekend courses and little to no training. They are not required to take the national boards, be certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine) or be licensed by the medical board in acupuncture. Physical therapists practice “dry needling” without proper training as well. I’m addressing this by educating the public, urging everyone to make sure their acupuncturist is properly trained. People can look for “L.Ac” or “Dipl. O.M.” after a practitioner’s name and check their credentials at https://www.nccaom.org/. In Ohio, they can also look their practitioner up on the eLicense site to see what kind of acupuncture license they hold. Someone who only took a brief course will be listed as having an “Acupuncture Certificate” instead of a full acupuncture license.

The journey toward a full acupuncture license begins with a 3-4 year Master’s degree from an accredited school, which includes an internship requirement. One must then take and pass 3 national boards through the NCCAOM in order to become a Diplomate and be certified. To obtain a certification in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, one must take and pass 4 national boards. Once certified, one must then obtain a license from their State Medical Board in order to be fully licensed in either Acupuncture (L.Ac) or Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (L.OM). In order to maintain one’s license and certification, the NCCAOM requires continuing education of 60 hours every four years.

We would love to assist you and strive to provide our patients with the best possible care. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.