Japanese Acupuncture Clinic – Lexington – FAQs
Does acupuncture hurt?
Do you sterilize your needles?
Do you offer other treatments in addition to acupuncture?
What kind of conditions do you treat?
How many treatments will I need and how often?
How long do treatments take?
How should I prepare?
Do I have to take my clothes off for treatment?
Can I address more than one health issue at a time with acupuncture?
Should I keep my appointment if I’m sick?
Can children be treated with acupuncture?
Do you treat people for fertility?
Can I receive treatment if I am pregnant?
Can you tell me more about Chinese herbal treatment?
What education and training do you have?
Will acupuncture and oriental medicine treatment be covered through my insurance?
Does acupuncture hurt?
This is the #1 question asked about acupuncture! Some people feel a slight pinch as the needle is inserted(much milder than an injection at the doctor’s office), but most people do not feel anything. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, not much thicker than the width of a human hair, and typically are not felt at all, especially after insertion.
(If you are unsure about needle acupuncture, I offer Cold Level Laser Therapy, a pain-free alternative to acupuncture.)
Do you sterilize your needles?
I NEVER reuse needles. I use one-time use, sterilized, disposable needles as the industry standard. There is no re-using of needles, even from one part of the body to another. Once a needle has been used, it is put into a bio-hazard box and disposed of.
Do you offer other treatments in addition to Acupuncture?
In addition to acupuncture, I offer a variety of treatments, which I customize to the specific needs of each patient. I am currently able to offer the following: Aromatherapy, Herbal Medicine, Cold Level Laser, Lumen Photon Light, Heat Therapy, Cupping, Gua Sha, Non-Insertion Therapy, TENS Unit Stimulation, Electrical Stimulation.
What kind of conditions do you treat?
I am able to treat a wide variety of conditions, from acute to chronic pain, fertility issues, adrenal fatigue, immune disorders – visit Conditions Treated for a comprehensive list.
How many treatments will I need and how often?
The number and frequency of treatments will depends on what you are having treated. For example, I sometimes see chronic pain patients once or twice a month, while patients who are going through an IVF cycle may come 2-3 times per week. We will work together to create a treatment plan that will work for you.
How long do treatments take?
Typically, appointments can last from 45 – 90 minutes, but the length of your individual treatments will depend on what we are treating.
How should I prepare?
Before your first appointment, I will ask you to fill out a few New Patient Forms.
For your appointment, please wear loose, comfortable clothing, and refrain from wearing excessive jewelry. Please do not wear perfume, strongly scented oil or lotion.
Do I have to take my clothes off for treatment?
Absolutely not. I often need to have access to areas just above the knee or up to the shoulder joint, so I suggest you wear pants that are able to roll up to the knees (yoga pants, sweatpants, etc), or you may wish to bring shorts to change into. Tee shirts or tank tops work well, and are easy to move if I need to access the back. Female patients – please wear a bra for treatment (not a sports bra).
Can I address more than one health issue at a time with acupuncture?
Absolutely. Be open and honest about your needs and how treatment is working for you, and even include things you may not think are relevant. Often patients who come in for one issue – say for back pain – will notice an improvement in something apparently unrelated, such as a chronic lung problem. Sometimes, patients will come in for one issue and we will uncover additional issues we can work on healing. While I do treat symptoms, I believe in Functional Medicine; treating the whole person, rather than only series of symptoms. I treat each patient as the whole person, always looking at the whole picture.
Should I keep my appointment if I’m sick?
In many cases, yes. Please email or text me ahead of time if you have signs of cold/flu (cough, fever, chill, fatigue), sinus infection, shingles etc, which might be contagious and affect other patients. However, acupuncture, cupping, Gua Sha, and other therapies are extremely effective in treating illness.
Can children be treated with acupuncture?
Yes! Children respond to acupuncture very quickly because of their abundant yang energy (and their faster metabolisms). I usually discharge children after only a few treatments. For more information, visit Children’s Therapy.
Do you treat people for fertility?
Treating both women and men for fertility issues is one of my main focuses. I have extensive experience with fertility patients, and have had great success. To learn more about fertility treatments, start with the Acupuncture and IUI/IVF page.
Can I receive treatment if I am pregnant?
Yes, acupuncture performed by a licensed, knowledgeable acupuncturist is safe while pregnant.
Can you tell me more about Chinese Herbal Treatment?
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) Therapy involves prescribing specific formulas to remedy the disharmony and symptoms that the patient is experiencing. Choosing from several hundred single herbs and formulas, I am able to prescribe unique customized formulas for each individual. The herbal prescription is usually a combination of pharmaceutical-grade raw herbs or herbal powders. I can also prescribe a combination of pre-made herbal formulas in capsule or tablet form. For more information, visit Herbal Medicine.
What education and training do you have?
I have a Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine from the NESA, New England School of Acupuncture. Tamie is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to practice Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy, and has been certified to practice acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ( www.nccaom.org). At NESA, students are required to have B.A. or B.S. degree along with completion of science prerequisite in order to study TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and either Japanese Style Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine. I studied both as a dual major student (180 credits NESA Program) and completed the program in 3 years along with assisting Japanese master twice per week during 3 years to brush up my skill set.
Will treatment be covered through my insurance?
It all depends on your plan (insurance policy) and your insurance provider. Please call your insurance company to find out which one is covered by your plan. Each insurance company has many different policies, and each policy seems to have different acupuncture coverage. Visit the Insurance page for more details.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please email Tamie!