FAQ

The first appointment includes two parts consisting of an initial intake and a treatment. The initial intake is a comprehensive interview to determine a diagnosis and a treatment plan. The subsequent treatment is the first step in implementing that diagnosis and strategy. Plan on 90 minutes for the first appointment and 45 to 60 minutes for follow-up visits. 

Chinese herbs combine synergistically with acupuncture and have been safely used for over 2,500 years to accelerate the healing process. Balance Point Health prescribes herbs from companies offering the highest quality ingredients. All the products are subject to stringent testing and are FDA and GMP-compliant. Like acupuncture, herbs work best when taken consistently at the recommended dose. Any recommended dietary supplements are based on modern research. You may also find other brands and can purchase your herbs and supplements wherever you choose.

Chinese herbs come in various forms including raw herbs, granulated herbs and
ready-made pills and tablets. Practitioners prescribe herbal formulas based on an
individualized pattern differentiation and disease diagnosis. The patient receives a
custom written prescription designed to treat the individual symptoms, while also
addressing the patient’s underlying constitutional pattern.

Chinese herbs contain many natural substances, such as bark, flowers, roots, leaves, twigs and stems. Occasionally herbal prescriptions may include ingredients from the animal and mineral kingdoms. Herbal formulas are typically decocted by the patient and made into tea. This involves boiling herbs for 45-60 minutes, straining and consuming them several times daily. Powdered extracts and pills are options for those unable to make herbal teas. The custom formula also allows the maximum practitioner flexibility in writing prescriptions for individual patients. This way, the patient can take modified formulas daily if conditions rapidly change.

In this system of medicine, each treatment builds on the previous one. Optimal results are achieved when a patient follows the suggested treatment plan. Please understand that acupuncture is a therapeutic process, not a magic cure. In China, a course of treatment consists of 10 visits, typically occurring 10 days in a row. While this frequency may not apply in the United States, the idea of 10 sessions as a round of treatment does. Committing to an initial 10 visits is recommended, and we will evaluate how you respond after the sixth treatment. Patients who drop out of care before having a chance to receive the benefits acupuncture can offer usually are not highly satisfied. Continue with your prescribed treatment plan, and you’ll find yourself a new level of health. Ultimately your degree of commitment will determine your success.

Scientific research is attempting to understand the mechanism of acupuncture. At this point, researchers can measure activity in specific various body systems when an acupuncture needle is inserted:

1) Increase in peripheral blood flow
2) increase in the neural pain threshold
3) release of neurochemicals similar to endorphins
4) increase in T-cells and other immune constituents
5) increased activity at nerve “gates.” Thermal PET scans also show activity in the regions of the brain responsible for “pain” messages.

Acupuncture needles are fine and solid, typically no thicker than human hair. The insertion of these needles is usually painless. However, Qi elicits a very tangible sensation in the body. So, the needles might produce a feeling of heaviness, warmth, an ache, or the sensation of Qi itself moving throughout the channels. Many people find acupuncture quite relaxing and often fall asleep during the treatment.

Balance Point Health complies with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Colorado Department of Health, including the proper cleaning and sterilization of instruments and the sanitation of acupuncture offices. Only single-use, disposable, factory-sterilized needles are utilized.

Please download the New Patient Intake form and allow yourself enough time to fill it out at your convenience. This form is 5 pages long and quite thorough. Please bring this form to your first appointment in addition to arriving 15 minutes early to sign administrative paperwork.

For most conditions, it’s recommended to have 2-3 acupuncture treatments per week for 2-4 weeks to reduce symptoms, followed by several weekly treatments to prevent relapse. If this schedule is not possible, you should receive at least one weekly treatment. However, please understand that this could prolong treatment. Acute conditions may resolve within 6-10 treatments. It is not unusual for long-term, chronic conditions to require 20 or more treatments.