FAQ Page

Does acupuncture hurt?

This is probably the question I get the most. While the short answer is no, the long answer is that acupuncture elicits sensations and sometimes these sensations can be perceived as painful. In Chinese Medicine, to obtain therapeutic effect many needles need to have a de qi effect. Which means “the arrival of qi”. This, for the patient, generally feels like a dull achy sensation, a traveling sensation, or a spreading sensation. Sometimes, as with trigger point work, you will feel a muscle fasciculate or “jump”. Read more about acupuncture on the What is Acupuncture page.

What should I expect?

Each treatment is different for every single person, and ever different from day to day depending on how things are progressing. I don’t do blanket one-size-fits-all treatments, so every treatment is tailored to your specific needs. Expect the treatment to be hands-on and tailored to you.

How many treatments do I need?

This is a hard question to answer without knowing the condition I am treating. A good rule of thumb is that more acute conditions will require less treatments, while more chronic conditions require more. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect so if you’re in an acute phase or an acute flare-up of a chronic condition, scheduling more frequent treatments early on will increases the chances of getting ahead of things.

What is dry needling and do you do it?

“Dry needling” (as opposed to “wet needling” that injects a saline solution into muscles), is a type of intramuscular needling aimed at “releasing” inhibited muscles. While I do incorporate intramuscular needling into my practice when I use tigger points or a muscle’s motor point, I don’t call it dry needling and I never do intramuscular needling as a stand-alone treatment. Rather it is part of a comprehensive treatment plan built within the theories of Chinese Medicine. The skill of treating a muscle’s motor point, trigger point, or tight tender point is a part of acupuncture that has been a around since it’s early years. In acupuncture term, they are known as ashi points. Read more about trigger point therapy on the Modalities page.

What should I bring?

Please bring shorts (for men) or shorts and a sports bra (for women) or a similar attire that is comfortable for you, which allows access to different muscles and areas on the body. If you like a certain music that is relaxing to you—bring the recommendation and I’ll play it for you.

What should I do after a treatment?

Drink plenty of water. If at all possible, take the rest of the day after a treatment easy. That means try to get your workouts in prior to coming. Take a bath with epsom salts, eat a cozy and warm dinner, and hang out with you cat. If life doesn’t look that simple, just make sure to go easy on yourself the rest of the day. You deserve it.

What should I expect in the days after a treatment?

You might be a little sore for 24-48 hours after a treatment. If your treatment included cupping or gua sha, you might have bruise-like marks (see the Modalities page for more info on that) that will go away within 2-10 days. Typically, the treatment will take a day or two to settle in so check in with your body is the days following to see what changes you notice.

How much does it cost?

Check my Services page for cash prices or to read about what insurance I am in-network with.