Frequently Asked Questions

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has been used to diagnose disease and promote health and a sense of well-being for thousands of years. Its effectiveness has been proven by both time and modern scientific studies. An experienced TCM practitioner is able to help you improve your health without interfering with other types of medical treatment you may be receiving, so you do not have to worry about suffering treatment setbacks or dangerous drug interactions.
Acupuncture is a safe, natural way to treat pain and other symptoms caused by many chronic illnesses and various types of injuries. Because acupuncture is less invasive than other forms of treatment, and creates virtually no side-effects, it is an excellent first step toward recovery. Acupuncture is also a great form of preventive healthcare, and a highly effective maintenance therapy. It does not interfere with physical therapy or chiropractic treatments, and may help maximize the benefits of these forms of care.
Despite the fact that acupuncture requires the insertion of several needles into the skin, it is surprisingly pain-free. You’re likely to feel a prick as the needle pierces your skin, but that sensation should only last a couple of seconds.

After that, acupuncture is hardly noticeable. This is because acupuncture needles are made of high-grade stainless steel, specially engineered for flexibility and smooth insertion.

If the first thing you think about when you hear the word “needle” is getting a shot at the doctor’s office, we’d like you to consider this: acupuncture needles are so thin that several of them can be inserted in a hypodermic needle! Also, consider that the medicine being injected through a hypodermic needle can often cause additional discomfort.

Because each person is different, the number of treatments a patient needs varies. Your acupuncturist will help you determine the length of treatment you need to relieve your symptoms. Some patients recover within the first 2-3 treatment sessions, while others begin to show improvement only after they have received several weeks of treatment. Patients with chronic conditions may require long-term maintenance.

After a significant injury, the recommended treatment frequency is 2-3 visits per week, for 4-6 weeks. Once the patient begins to show improvement, the number of treatments is gradually reduced until full recovery is reached.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system that requires the supervision of a trained practitioner. When administered properly, TCM produces little side-effects. Different TCM treatment modalities have different effects. There is usually significant bruising with cupping (because of the suction), and occasionally you may have a tiny bruise where an acupuncture needle was placed. Your acupuncturist will gladly discuss any possible risks or side-effects that may occur.
The formulas in Chinese Herbal Medicine are composed of natural, quality-controlled plants and animal products, that when administered properly, produce little or no side-effects. It is important that you let your acupuncturist know the names and types of medications you are taking because with this information he or she will be able to check if there is any possibility of any drug interactions occurring. We most often use Evergreen herbs because of the company’s commitment to quality.
Traditionally, raw herbs are boiled with water and the resulting teas have different tastes; some are sweet, while others can be extremely bitter or sour. At Acupuncture Pain Management we use herbs in capsule form. We feel that most people don’t have the time to boil the teas and often won’t drink them because of the taste. It is just easier for most people to swallow capsules. For tea lovers, we can order the herbs in powder form. All you have to do is add a few teaspoons of powder to a cup of warm water. These teas are much milder tasting, and often quite pleasant.
Due to the increasing popularity of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other forms of alternative health care, many insurance providers are offering some TCM benefits. The services covered vary from plan to plan. At this time, most plans cover only acupuncture, so if you are interested in other TCM modalities, such as herbal medicine, you may have to pay for those out of pocket. Some plans allow a specific number of treatments per year, while others limit acupuncture for the treatment of certain conditions. The surest way to find out if you have acupuncture coverage is by calling your insurance carrier directly. At Acupuncture Pain Management, we will gladly make this call for you. All you have to do is provide us with your insurance information and we will verify your benefits for you.

We accept most Insurance: Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Optum Health, Pacificare, ILWU, American Specialty Health, Kaiser and many more. See complete list of Worker’s Compensation & Insurances we accept.