PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
For your first visit, please bring a list of any pharmaceuticals, herbs, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins that you are currently taking. Also, provide any available lab results for your current condition and the contact information for your primary care physician. You can also provide this information electronically by filling out and submitting the pre-treatment paperwork online prior to your appointment.
We recommend eating a light meal before any treatment. This will mitigate most of the common side effects of acupuncture that are listed below.
Please do not brush your tongue before any treatment. Inspection of your tongue is an important diagnostic tool used to gauge the state of your health.
The majority of the needles will be placed on the forearms, lower legs, and abdomen. Therefore we recommend wearing loose and comfortable clothing that can easily be rolled up to the elbows and knees.
Your first visit
Your first visit will take 90 minutes. During this visit, we will examine any documents you provide, assess your health, create a comprehensive treatment plan targeted to your health needs, and provide an initial acupuncture treatment. Because of the holistic nature of our medical practice, we will seek information about your emotional health, diet, digestion, and sleep patterns, recognizing that these elements can have strong influences on your physical health. Information from this intake session will help us better understand what is happening in your body and mind, and reveal possible patterns of disharmony.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PATIENT FAQ's
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes. When performed by a licensed acupuncturist, acupuncture is very safe with a minute number of associated side effects, or complications. At Foothills Acupuncture our practitioners are licensed by the state and nationally board certified. Our practitioners only use single-use sterile needles and strictly adhere to the clean needle technique procedures.
"Although tens of millions of acupuncture needles are used annually in the United States, only about 50 cases of complications resulting from acupuncture have been reported in the medical literature over the past 20 years." - Birch, et. al., "Clinical Research on Acupuncture", Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004.Is acupuncture painful?
Very few people report finding the insertion of acupuncture needles to be painful. These needles are hair fine, unlike injection needles which are thicker, hollow and have cutting edges. For this reason, acupuncture feels nothing like getting a shot or having blood drawn.
How many treatments will it take to see results?
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine, while they can show positive results from just one treatment, typically take multiple treatments to influence the body into a healing state. The number of treatments will vary based on the patient’s constitution and the type of condition that is affecting the patient. Typically people with non-chronic and milder conditions can start to see some change and lasting results in 4-6 treatments. If the patient’s health issues are chronic, long-lasting, or severe, it may take 10 or more treatments to start to see change and lasting results. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have a cumulative effect and therefore stronger disharmonies in the body may require multiple treatments per week at first to be able to obtain lasting results. It should be noted that most patients will feel better and more relaxed after every acupuncture treatment, even if their health problem is not fully resolved.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. Foothills Acupuncture is a Lakewood acupuncture clinic that accepts insurance. We are currently in-network with several insurance companies including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Anthem, Cigna, United Health Care, Triwest, and more. Click on the button below to visit the acupuncture insurance resource page to learn more and to access the secure insurance benefits verification page. To find out more about insurance coverage, please feel free to contact us via voice, text, or email and we are happy to answer any questions that you might have.
Check the insurance benefits page
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. At Foothills Acupuncture, we want to ensure that you are confident in your decision to incorporate acupuncture and Chinese medicine into your life. We are happy to discuss with you your current health issue, a possible health plan, and address any questions that you might have regarding acupuncture and Chinese medicine. We can be reached by phone, email or by sending us a message below.
How much do your services cost?
The cost of services varies depending on what service is given. Below is a list of the services Foothills Acupuncture offers. For a more detailed list with descriptions of each service, please visit the Services page.
If you are seeking treatment, but are having trouble affording it, please ask about our sliding scale.
● 90-minute initial treatment $130.
● 60-minute treatment $90.
● 30-minute treatment $50.What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that you please provide a 24-hour notice of cancellation prior to your scheduled appointment. If you miss an appointment or cancel less than 24 hours in advance, you may be subject to the full cost of the service that you scheduled.
How long has acupuncture been practiced?
Acupuncture has a recorded history of 5000 years. Today's modern acupuncture practice often incorporates a blend of western and eastern modalities while maintaining the traditional theories of acupuncture.