FAQs

Is acupuncture different than dry needling?

Yes. Acupuncture is an entire discipline that can treat a broad range of symptoms and conditions extending beyond pain relief and recovery from injury. The techniques of acupuncture, when performed by a licensed practitioner, are part of a larger diagnostic and therapeutic framework that aims to provide not only short-term relief for acute symptoms but also contextualizes your condition within the specific ecology of your body. This long-view approach to health means that acupuncture treatment can focus on both healing to resolution and help you prevent recurrence.

WA State Department of Health license requirements for practicing acupuncture requires 750 hours of acupuncture and eastern medicine science courses along with 500 hours of supervised clinical training.

Will I need more than one treatment?

It depends. Do you need help recovering from an injury, have a chronic illness, or both? Many people see changes after one treatment regardless of the nature of their problem, but most often people need several sessions to achieve lasting results. We will assess the history and complexity of your concerns during our first meeting and using that information lay out an appropriate treatment schedule.

Are herbal medicines safe?

Yes. Herbal supplements are not an integral part of mainstream medicine in the United States as they are in countries like Germany. It’s easy to understand why. Western clinical study protocols have been developed for testing pharmaceutical substances and the average cost to bring a drug to market is $350 million in the US. This poses an insurmountable economic hurdle for most herbal manufacturers. Herbs are categorized as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It’s important to recognize that Chinese herbal medicine has been used for centuries, and there is a vast body of historical and empirical evidence crediting their safety and effectiveness in the treatment of both acute and chronic conditions. If you have questions about herbal safety, I’d be happy to provide more information.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. If you cancel your appointment without a 24-hour advanced notice, you will be charged a $50 fee. All no-shows are responsible for paying the full appointment fee. Please note that insurance providers do not cover missed appointment fees because no services were rendered.