FAQs

Chinese medicine is a complex system of medicine that has been utilized for over 2,500 years. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that focuses on bringing the body back into balance and healing patterns of disease. There are 20 acupuncture channels and about 365 acupuncture points located all over the body. Blockages and obstructions in these channels can cause pain and illness, both emotionally and physically.

Different acupuncture points are chosen for each individual based on what pattern is showing up in their body. Acupuncture points used on these channels give specific messages to the body to redirect it to normal functioning again. Our bodies inherently know what to do and how to heal, the needles simply work with the body to help this happen.

For thousands of years Chinese Medicine has been evaluating, diagnosing and effectively treating a wide variety of health conditions.
Here is a list of common conditions that we can treat:

Pain: Muscle pain and cramping, headaches and migraines, back, shoulder and joint pain, arthritis, sports injuries, strains and sprains, sciatica, dental pain, TMJ

Digestive complaints: Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, food allergies, irritable bowel, colitis, acid reflux, nausea, indigestion, morning sickness, peptic ulcer, gallstones

Cardiovascular: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, poor circulation, palpitations, angina, atrial fibrillation, anemia, edema

Respiratory: Common cold and flu and prevention, allergies, hay fever, asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, cough, bronchitis, sore throat

Women’s health: PMS, infertility, menstrual disorders, pregnancy and fertility enhancement, nursing issues, menopause symptoms, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, UTI’s, interstitial cystitis, incontinence

Men’s health: Sexual dysfunction, BPH, infertility, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, urinary dribbling, frequent urination

Emotional: Stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bi-polar, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, mood swings, nervousness, addictions

Neurological: Neuropathy, shingles, vertigo, tremors, post stoke residuals, facial pain

Skin: Hives, acne, dandruff, dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, scars

Other benefits: Autoimmune diseases, endocrine issues, children’s health, adjunctive cancer therapy, increase energy, smoking cessation and other addictions, ear and eye health

The needles that we use in acupuncture are very different than the hypodermic needles most people are accustomed to in Western medicine. The width of an acupuncture needle is approximately the size of a single human hair. Sensations do occur at points where the needles are inserted, but most patients find acupuncture very relaxing. They often describe these sensations as tingling, dull, heavy, and warm.

The first part of the session consists of a thorough intake that will help give us a detailed picture of your health. After talking with you, the practitioner will spend some time taking your pulse and looking at your tongue, which are important diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine.

Once this information is collected, the practitioner will make an individual diagnosis, come up with a treatment protocol and perform acupuncture using selected points that fit the diagnosis. You will then rest on the massage table with needles for 20 minutes.

Your practitioner may perform Chinese massage (tui na), cupping, gua sha or moxa before or after the treatment. After the treatment, your practitioner may give an herbal formula that was made while you were resting, as well as provide other diet/lifestyle recommendations, and discuss further treatment recommendations.


Initial treatment: 1 hour and 45 minutes


Follow-up treatment: 1 hour

Chinese medicine works so well because it views each person’s body uniquely, which also means the number of treatments needed will vary for each person. In general, acute conditions could take 2-3 sessions, while chronic conditions may require 8-12 sessions.

Patients will usually begin to see changes within the first few sessions as the body starts to re-pattern into healthy functioning. The more compliant the patient is with herbal, lifestyle and diet recommendations, the faster the healing process tends to be.

Herbal medicine is a powerful adjunct to acupuncture treatments and can be used to increase the healing process between treatments. We will always have herbal formula recommendations for our patients from our extensive raw herbal pharmacy that can be conveniently taken at home. Many patients enjoy taking herbs and find it to be a great investment in their healing, but it is not a required part of treatment. Food and lifestyle changes added to your acupuncture treatments can make a big difference even without herbs.

We accept cash, check or card for payment, including HSA cards. We are not in network with insurance companies. Upon request we can provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Similar to herbal medicine, essential oils come from a number of medicinal plants and flowers, but are in a more concentrated form and applied externally. Our practitioners have been trained to use essential oils in a Chinese Medicine context. Because of this we know which oils would be best applied to which acupuncture points. The patient can then apply these oils at home on a schedule recommended by the practitioner. This allows another way for a patient to keep the healing process going in between acupuncture treatments, and keep certain points stimulated.

These seeds are attached to a small adhesive piece of tape that are applied to different ear acupuncture points that follow your treatment. They usually last for 3-5 days on the point. Patients can rub these seeds in between treatments to keep certain points stimulated. The ear itself is a microcosm of our bodily system and has points that can address any external or internal area of the body.

Cupping moves suctioned cups on the body. It is often used to alleviate symptoms of muscular pain and the beginnings of respiratory illnesses. It detoxes the muscles by breaking up extra capillaries the body has created to store toxins, often produced by stress, illness and injury.

Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is a low impact, internal movement art that increases flexibility through a series of standing movements. Callan Welder has been practicing QiGong for more than twelve years and has had the great pleasure of studying with expert teachers from America and China. QiGong is a way to prevent disease and improve health as a holistic approach to exercise. Anyone, of any age and skill level can practice QiGong. The form that he teaches improves health by repairing organs, increasing bone density and thereby cultivating longevity. Join Callan at Magictown Movement Studio for a Qi Gong for Longevity class.