Is Acupuncture painful?
Treatments are usually painless and patients feel very calm and relaxed. The needles we used for the treatments are very thin compared to hypodermic needles which are used for injections.
How does Acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is an ancient technique that promotes your body's natural healing process. Acupuncture promotes healing by stimulating blood circulation, relaxing muscles and reducing local inflammations. Acupuncture stimulates brain and it stimulates body to release neurotransmitters and hormones so it helps to find inner balance, improve posture and relieve pain. Practitioners decided which points to use based on a patient's signs and symptoms. Once the needle is inserted it will be gently manipulated until Qi is felt. Acupuncture has none of the toxic side effects often associated with pharmaceutical medications.
Are Acu-Aura acupuncturists licensed?
Yes. We are nationally licensed and hold Washington state licenses. We are trained in human anatomy and qualified to insert needles safely. We only use single use, disposable, sterile needles for Acupuncture treatments.
What should I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, we take a history of your past and current illness and complaints. We will diagnose your condition based on Traditional Chinese Diagnostic Methods and discuss about our exam findings. We will explain Traditional Chinese diagnosis and plan for your recovery. The first visit is usually an hour long including the treatment.
How to prepare for the visit?
On the day of your appointment, please do not brush or scrape your tongue. The tongue coating is very important to diagnosis and can be disrupted with brushing. Please wear comfortable clothes, preferably ones that stretch and allow easy access to your upper arms and legs. If you are coming from work, don't worry we will provide you with a gown and appropriate draping.
What is late and cancellation policy?
Life’s unpredictable and we understand.
If you are late, please let us know as soon as possible. We will try to accommodate you to the best of our ability, but your treatment session may be shortened to prevent running over into the next patient’s scheduled time.
If you need to cancel your appointment, please give 24 hours notice, otherwise $full treatment fee will be charged for missed appointments or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.
Do you accept health insurance?
Currently we are not accepting insurance directly, however, we can create a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement if you do have acupuncture coverage.
Can my kids get acupuncture?
Yes! We provide very gentle treatments and kids love us. In fact, Bella has many young patients and they absolutely love how fun her treatments are.
Is herbal treatment safe?
Yes, the herbs are FDA approved substances such as plants, flowers and minerals. When prescribed correctly, Chinese Herbs rarely elicit side effects and have been proven safe and effective during thousands of years of use. Individual herbs are combined together and work synergistically to enhance the desired therapeutic action of the formula. Herbal formulas come in many forms, including herbal teas, pills, powders and tinctures.
How does cupping work?
Cupping involves using glass cups, quickly inserting fire into the cup to remove oxygen creating a vacuum and then quickly placing the cup on the patient. The cups are either placed stationary or the practitioner will slide them. When the vacuum is created with the patient's skin it opens the pores, stimulates the flow of blood and Qi, breaks up obstructions and creates an avenue to pull out toxins from the body. In this simple way cupping reduces pain and relaxes tight painful muscles. We use silicone cups for the facial cupping.
What is Gua Sha?
Gua Sha means scraping and bruising in Chinese. The skin is scraped until redness is seen, the redness is unlike bruising as it does not produce capillary rupture. Like cupping, the redness will disappear in a few days. Gua Sha increases blood circulation, range of motion, immune function and decreases pain and inflammation. Gua Sha, like cupping will leave red marks that will disappear in a few days. Patients should not swim or exercise for the day after treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
It depends on the condition being treated, but generally range from 2-8 treatments to see results.
How soon will I feel better?
Acute conditions respond well to about 2 or 3 treatments per week for a short period of time but for chronic patients, it may take several treatments to feel improvement.
I feel perfectly fine. Can I still get acupuncture?
Yes. Acupuncture helps to regulate your hormones and brings energy and stamina.
Why wait until you become ill to have the benefits of Acupuncture?