Licensed acupuncturist Durango Colorado - Ancient Roots

Not generally. There will of course occasionally be a slight prick when some needles are inserted, and a short or lingering sensation around the needle site called "Da qi." This feeling may be unfamiliar, but should not cause any significant discomfort, and is an important way for your body to communicate that it perceives the needle.

 I am very sensitive to how my patients respond to my needling and am happy to adjust or remove if necessary. There is no need for stoicism if any of them may be uncomfortable.

You will enter my sunny office and sit and chat with me about your medical history and current health concerns

I will have you lay down on the treatment table where I will look at your tongue and feel your pulses. 

Wear loose fitting clothes. Most of the points are generally accessible this way, but I can always drape you with a sheet if necessary.

You will lay with needles quietly for 20-40 minutes, depending on what is needed. Time will be set aside at the end for any body work that might be necessary.

And why would you want to look at my tongue and feel my pulses?

This is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosing. I'm looking at your tongue for color, coat, cracks or markings. I feel your pulses not only for the speed, but for the quality of what it feels like under my fingertips. It could feel like a guitar string sharply hitting my finger or like a round bead rolling under, it may be deep, it may be only on the surface. All of this gives me information about singularly "you," so that I am every time treating the person in front of me, not a list of symptoms.

On average, I like to see significant improvement in 6-10 consecutive treatments with the knowledge that it may take more (or less) time to fully resolve. If your condition is acute, as in has come on within days or weeks, then you may expect one or only a few treatments. In the case of extremely chronic conditions like back pain, sleep or digestive complaints that have been going on for years, this can take longer to feel like yourself again. The more consistent you are with treatment, the quicker you will see results.

We are accustomed to quick results in Western medicine. This medicine focuses on the deep healing  of the whole person,  not just the symptoms. This can take time, so some patience may be required.

It is becoming more and more common for acupuncture to be covered by insurance, even "out of network" acupuncture which is currently how I operate. You would pay me out of pocket and then submit a "superbill" (which is a document I will give you with all the neccesary codes) to your insurance company. It may seem like a lot of work, but if it covers your treatment cost, it's always worth asking and doing the leg work!

Paying with a Health Savings Account (HSA) is always an option.

I also offer a package deal as a way to lower costs and as an incentive to continue care where more than one treatment is necessary. 

Not true, acupuncture is used to treat countless conditions! Acupuncture has been used as primary care for thousands of years and is one of the most enduring of traditional medical systems still practiced today.

It is used to treat all systems of the body. In TCM, the body and organs are connected in a complex system of blood, fluids, qi, yin, and yang, all working  together to maintain a balance to achieve homeostasis. The needles facilitate the stimulation of the body's natural healing system for effective and efficient function and communication.

It is used to treat conditions that the Western medical system has no answers for like tinnitus, bells palsy and peripheral neuropathies. It is not, however, meant to be used in place of serious life threatening disease, but as a means of support for these conditions. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are ideally used for preventative care.