Frequently Asked Questions

We do not currently accept insurance; payment at the time of treatment is expected.  Many insurance plans do provide some coverage for acupuncture; please check with your carrier.  If you do plan to file for reimbursement from your insurance company, please let us know, and claim forms will be provided on request. Benefits are ultimately determined by your policy.

Are you looking for a more patient-centered approach to your health concerns?  Would you like a more personal relationship with a provider?  Would you like to reduce your reliance on prescription medications? 

Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to care, attending to the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the whole person.  The idea of each human’s place within the universe, of patterns in nature repeated on the body, of the intricate relationship between organ function and emotional balance- these are all fundamental concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Even from an entirely Western Medical perspective, acupuncture treatments include points that target systemic regulation and connectivity throughout the nervous system.  Acupuncture addresses the root cause of health concerns to help restore your body to harmony and foster lasting wellness.

By enhancing balance and relaxation, acupuncture can facilitate healing or simply become one element of your comprehensive wellness program. Whatever your life challenges, acupuncture provides a non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical companion to your current regimen to help you reach your health goals.

For your first visit, your evaluation begins before you even arrive, as your Intake forms are reviewed before your appointment.  Please be sure that these are submitted in a timely fashion to permit a thorough review, so more time can be devoted to treatment.

It is extremely helpful to bring or wear clothing that permits adequate exposure of treatment areas.  For men, a pair of loose shorts; for women, a bra that opens in the back, a tank top, and loose shorts are ideal.

Your first session with Dr. Edmunds is designed to be thorough. During your 90-minute visit, we will take some time to get to know each other, review your medical history together, and address any questions we each might have.  The majority of the session is devoted to physical assessment and treatment.

Each new patient has a general physical examination, with more detailed evaluation of your specific health concern.  We may check your range of motion and test muscle function at target areas, for example.  Dr. Edmunds also gathers information through light touch on the torso, back, hands, and feet, identifying tender, tight areas to be released during treatment.

Your acupuncture treatment begins on your first visit.  Thin needles may be placed on the arms, legs, back, and other sites, all chosen specifically to address your health concerns. Our goal is painless insertion of needles in order to keep your nervous system relaxed and your body receptive to treatment.

Your customized acupuncture therapy may include:

• Moxa Therapy:  Moxa is a healing plant used to amplify the treatment’s effects.
• Electroacupuncture:  Gentle electrical stimulation can be applied to acupuncture points for healthy messaging to the brain and enhanced pain relief.
• Infrared Heat Therapy: Many treatments include targeted infrared heat to one or more areas of the body.   This soothing therapy can be especially helpful to relax tight and sore muscles and joints.
• Advanced Needling Techniques: This specialized form of gentle needling can release tight, painful muscles for greater comfort and flexibility.  This type of specialized needling can be extremely beneficial for headaches, neck and shoulder tension, low back and hip pain, and stress-related conditions.

Patients are encouraged to communicate with the doctor openly and freely throughout the session. Our goal is to keep you safe, comfortable, and relaxed.

The style of acupuncture performed in this practice is highly individualized and based on your physical findings. A detailed examination at each session determines the selection of treatment points. Through palpation (the process of gathering information through touch), we assess your body for the structural and constitutional imbalances underlying your symptoms. By addressing  problems at the root, we can bring about deep and long-lasting healing. This holistic perspective is particularly helpful for chronic or complex issues.

Acupuncture is a holistic method of treatment developed in China thousands of years ago. According to ancient teachings, an energetic force called “Qi” animates the body, flowing through channels called “meridians”. Acupuncture helps optimize this energetic flow, promoting health, supporting immunity, facilitating healing, modulating the impact of stress, and regulating emotions.

Acupuncture is performed by inserting tiny, hair-thin needles into specific points along meridians, influencing the flow of energy and providing access to deeper structures within your body. By relieving blockages and regulating the flow of Qi, acupuncture helps restore you to balance and can facilitate healing on a physical, emotional, spiritual, and behavioral level.

Our goal is a painless insertion, to keep your body relaxed and receptive throughout the treatment.  You will likely feel no or only minimal discomfort.

Acupuncture needles are nothing like the hollow, sharp needles used to draw blood or deliver medication.  Acupuncture needles are blunt-tipped, thinner than a human hair, and too flimsy to penetrate the skin without the aid of a specially designed tube. The pressure of that tube and the provider’s hand on your skin serve to blunt sensation as the tiny needle is gently tapped into place. You may feel an ache, or a grab, as the needle reaches its destination, but most people do not find this unpleasant.

Acupuncture performed by a trained professional is quite safe. The needles are sterile and come directly out of the package at the time of treatment. Needling, in general, is very superficial, avoiding any risk of injury to deeper structures. Minor bleeding or bruising may occur, especially if you are on blood thinners or have a clotting disorder. Much less commonly, some patients may experience dizziness, nausea, or temporary irritation of a nerve.

Acupuncture is like information for your body to de-code, process, and integrate.  This information often needs to be repeated and reinforced, especially for chronic problems.  Patients in their Silver or Golden years may also need more sessions, more frequently, to achieve maximal benefit. 

Complex or long-standing conditions often need to be addressed in stages, with treatment plans that evolve based on your response.  I encourage patients to plan on coming in every 1-2 weeks until they are at a plateau they are happy with. 

An important aspect of treatment with us is guidance on encouraging the healing process at home.  Modifying lifestyle behaviors contributing to the health concern can promote a more robust response to therapy.  We look forward to partnering with our patients on developing strategies for deep and long-lasting healing.

We do not believe in making unrealistic promises about treatment with us, nor do we promote continued treatment in the absence of progress.  A fair trial is generally considered to be 5-6 sessions with visits every 1-2 weeks. 

As research continues, acupuncture is finding its way more and more into “mainstream” medicine. Many highly acclaimed institutions, from the Mayo Clinic to Boston Children’s Hospital, have incorporated acupuncture into their pain management programs. Forty-six percent of pain clinics in the United States today offer access to acupuncture to their patients.

Yes. There is an entrance that is fully ADA accessible, as is our office. If you anticipate needing extra time or assistance changing clothes and/or gaining access to the treatment table, please notify us in advance.

While certain points are avoided during pregnancy, acupuncture in trained hands is a safe way to treat some of the common symptoms such as morning sickness, acid reflux and pain in the back and hips.