FAQ

Questions About Earth Pulse Acupuncture

What should I expect on my first visit?

I always strive to provide a comfortable, caring environment for everyone who visits Earth Pulse Acupuncture. In your initial 90-minute appointment, you can expect the following:

• The initial consultation will begin by discussing your entire health history from your birth to any present day concerns. This will include a review of any traumatic experiences, illnesses and/or periods of heightened stress.
• We will also shed light on any life style tendencies that could be contributing to your concerns, and also offer tips on ways to remedy the situation.
• Next, a pulse, tongue & Meridian diagnosis will be conducted while you lie (fully clothed) on the treatment table.
• Once all of the necessary information has been gathered, it will then be integrated into a treatment protocol.
• You will then receive an acupuncture treatment as well as any other supplemental bodywork necessary to restore optimal health and well-being.

Do you take insurance?

Insurance/Superbill

Any patient wishing to have insurance cover all or a portion of their treatment, should contact their insurance provider to learn the coverage boundaries of their policies; with respect to Traditional Chinese Medicine, including Acupuncture.

I am able to work with insurance providers by providing my patients with a Superbill upon request. A Superbill is an invoice for your visit that uses standardized codes for all of the treatments performed. This process requires the patient to pay the full cost of the treatment out-of-pocket at the time of the visit. The Superbill can thereafter be submitted to your insurance carrier for full or partial reimbursement depending on your policy. Patients wishing to make use of this service should check with their insurance carriers first to be sure that Superbills are accepted.

About the Treatments

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and how does it work?

TCM is a system of restoring health and well being to the mind, body and spirit that is based on a theory that dates back 5,000 years. That being said, advances in its application are being pioneered world wide, and it continues to evolve with the times. In essence it consists of Acupuncture, Pulse Diagnosis, Chinese Herbal Formulas, and several other modalities such as Tui Na, Gua Sha, Moxibustion, Auricular Therapy and Bleeding.

What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Chinese Herbal Medicine is a major component of the Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been for over 3000 years in China and worldwide. Before pharmaceuticals (and even the use of acupuncture needles), herbal remedies were used to heal and balance the human body. Chinese herbs have shown their effectiveness under the scrutiny of both empirical study and modern clinical trials. These herbs can be used to augment the treatment of a particular imbalance, working together or sometimes in place of acupuncture and other medicines. Unlike most pharmaceuticals, herbal prescriptions in Chinese Medicine are tailor-made for the individual. Also, at Earth Pulse Acupuncture, we use only medical grade herbs that come triple tested for pesticides, heavy metals or other environmental toxins. You can rest assured that only the highest quality products on the market will be offered.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the most effective ways to unblock energy flow and restore the body to a state of balanced “Qi”. Acupuncture is performed by inserting hair thin needles into carefully selected points along the body; which correspond directly to the energy meridians.  There are many different techniques when it comes to Acupuncture, and I specialize in the Japanese style, with is very subtle and yet can be profoundly effective. Once inserted, you may experience a wide variety of sensations, often times patients are astonished by their ability to sense the “Qi” sensation. Only sterile, single use needles are used, and you are guided through the process breath by breath.

What is Bodywork?

Bodywork is a term used in alternative medicine to describe any therapeutic touch; oriented by a physical and somatic understanding of the body. In the context of TCM, it refers to all adjunct modalities, including but not limited to: Tui Na, Gua Sha, Moxibustion, and Auricular Therapy.

What is Pulse Diagnosis?

Everything in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pertains to the pulse diagnosis in some particular way; in short it is the essence of TCM. From the earliest Chinese case histories in the second century BC, doctors prescribed remedies based on pulse taking. The pulses communicate signs of changes within the body, as well as between the body and its environment. The pulse can be used to gain a deep understanding of the patient on many levels; it can give very detailed information on the state of the internal organs and it reflects the whole complex of Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang and frankly, every part of the body. Just as the tongue can reflect these phenomena, so does the pulse. Pulse Diagnosis is a very subtle skill. We take the pulse on the radial artery, dividing it into three sections on the wrist and detecting it at three different levels of depth. By closely reading  pulse’s while performing acupuncture, the practitioner is able to witness the body’s capacity to heal. This leads to even more accuracy when prescribing tailored Chinese Herbal Formulas.

What is Breathwork?

Breathwork helps you to relax and de-stress, it can iron out the nervous tension and worry of the daily grind and busy modern lives. It can help you to bring lasting peace, calm and clarity to troubled, often frantic busy lives. More so it will help you in re-establishing your true direction to achieve your fullest potential.   Every spiritual tradition focuses on the power of breathing and making your breathing process ‘conscious’. It is the awakening of the healing power of the conscious breath, that allows spontaneous (natural) healing to occur. We see this everyday in various degrees, as we change our breath in order to address the matter at hand. So it is with a focus on self healing that I offer individualized breathing practices with every treatment. A patient can also come in separately for a Breathwork treatment if he/she wishes.

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion refers to the burning of mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) on an acupuncture point. The mugwort is removed before it can burn the skin. The purpose is to stimulate and strengthen the blood and the life energy, or qi, of the body. Moxibustion or ‘moxa’ is often incorporated into an Acupuncture treatment, and can be profoundly effective in treating all manner of disease.

The actual Chinese character for acupuncture literally translates into “acupuncture-moxibustion.” More than 3,000 years ago, during the Shang Dynasty in China, hieroglyphs of acupuncture and moxibustion were found on bones and tortoise shells, meaning the practice precedes that date. The root word, “moxa” is actually derived from the Japanese, and I practice the Japanese application of moxibustion.

What is Tui Na?

Tui Na, literally “pushing-grasping,” is the name commonly used to refer to Chinese medical massage. It differentiates medical massage from other Asian massage methods such as “An Mo” or “Shiatsu.”  Properly employed, the theories and techniques of Tui Na are extremely effective at treating a wide variety of problems, including structural misalignment, orthopedic problems and sports injuries, as well as internal diseases. Tui Na is often included in an acupuncture visit or can be done separately.

What is Gua Sha?

Gua Sha is a commonly used healing technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves palpation and  stimulation of the skin, in strokes, by a round-edged instrument; that results in the appearance of small red petechiae called ‘sha’, that will fade in 2 to 3 days. Raising Sha removes blood stagnation considered pathogenic, promoting normal circulation and metabolic processes.The patient experiences immediate relief from pain, stiffness, fever, chill, cough, nausea, and so on. Gua Sha is valuable in the prevention and treatment of acute infectious illness, upper respiratory and digestive problems, and many other acute or chronic disorders. . It is wonderful at treating stiff upper necks and backs and dealing with everyday stress.  Gua Sha is often included in an acupuncture visit or can be done separately.

What is Cupping?

Cupping is a method of treating disease that is caused by  congestion. A partial vacuum is created in a cupping jar, usually by means of heat, which is then applied directly to the skin. Cupping is often done on the upper back to relieve acute illnesses such as colds and fevers. Cupping can also be done all over the body to invigorate the flow of Qi and to relieve tension and pain. It is often used to treat chronic back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder and more. In addition, it can have a detoxification affect and revitalize the internal organs.

What is Auricular Therapy?

Ear Acupuncture, also known as Auricular Therapy, is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Auricular therapy is widely used for various conditions, including addiction treatment, mood disorders, obesity, pain, and many other conditions. This medical system emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the whole person, while using the ear as a micro-system. Every internal organ, system and structure in the human body corresponds to a particular area of the ear. With the application of an Acupuncture needle to a specific point on the ear, all systems can find a more balanced and healthy state. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol, is used around the world to help people deal with and recover from substance abuse.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a popular non-invasive healing technique used to maintain health by channeling energy. Like acupuncture, Reiki releases stuck energy and promotes balance of the Qi life force within the whole body. Unlike acupuncture, Reiki does not use needles but uses gentle touch to stimulate energy flow. Anyone who has had the Reiki training, naturally offers Reiki (healing touch) when practicing bodywork.

What About Nutritional Counseling?

Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine also known as the Niejing, was most important in forming the basis of Chinese food therapy. “Medicine and food are of the same sauce”, the Neijing says. It classified food by four food groups, five tastes and by their natures and characteristics. Eating food according to your constitution and in harmony with the climate is fundamental to staying well. Understanding common diseases, knowing how to read their early symptoms and knowing the nature and characteristics of foods, are keys to eating right for preventive health-care.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is unsurpassed as the pioneer of nutritional health. And once a patient’s pulse diagnosis has been determined, it is all the more clear what foods to recommend to support optimal health.

As such, Traditional Chinese dietary recommendations are given to patients throughout treatment. Additionally, I frequently make recommendations for western nutritional supplements as needed. Nutritional counseling is included in an acupuncture visit or can be done separately.