+ What is a Healthling?

A Healthling is a person who takes charge of their healthcare, who owns the knowledge to get well, and get back on their feet.

+ Who should become a Healthling

Anyone with an active lifestyle looking to prevent injury, and maintain optimum health and well-being

+ Does Healthlings accept insurance?

Soon! We are in the process of partnering with many of the Major insurance providers. Currently we are able to provide superbill invoicing for personal reimbursement from your insurance provider.

+ What should I expect for my first appointment?

For your first appointment we want to get to know all about you! We take a very in depth health history which can take an hour or more. During the initial intake we will talk about the history of your present concern, as well as past health conditions.

We will do a nutrition scan, measure your blood pressure, and do a movement assessment. In Traditoina Chinese Medicine, we use the tongue and pulse as one of our most valuable diagnostic tools; so we will look at those as well.

After the health asessment we will formulate a treatment which may include acupuncture needles, cupping, gua sha, tui na (chinese form of massage) or KT taping. Most patients rest around 20-30 minutes with acupuncture needles in.

Chinese medicine formulas may be recommended as well as diet modifications or supplementation. After treatment, we will recommend a treatment plan and try to give the best idea of what timeframe would be best to treat the condition.

+ What should I wear to my appointment?

You should wear loose, comfortable clothing. The most commonly used acupuncture points are on the lower legs and arms, back, and abdomen, so pants with legs loose enough to roll up to the knee are helpful.

+ Can Children receive acupuncture

Yes! Children can receive acupuncture with a parent’s consent to treatment. Parents must also stay with the child at all times during treatment. We use minimal needles with children and do more manual therapy to invigirate acupuncture meridians.

+ What kind of health conditions can Healthlings help with?

Healthlings treats all kinds of conditions. While our main focus is injury prevention, our clinic will see everything from insomnia to Low Back Pain. We understand that injuries from sports as well as overstrain at work do happen. Our goal is to treat pain and get you back to work, whether that be at the office or on the court. Chinese Medicine treats an extremely wide range of health issues. Please give us a call and see if we can be of help.

+ How many treatments will I need?

Patient treatment plans vary from patient to patient. At Healthlings, we want to work as a team. We want you to ask us questions, and we want to help you find the answers to get well and remain well. Patients will often be given “homework” whether that is working on nutrition or exercise prescription, we will work together as a team to create wellness and balance.
For acute injury or post surgery with PT release, we may see patients up to two times a week and then taper off to once a week and then once a month for prevention. Patients often come in for “maintenance” appointments or “tuneups” once a week or every other week if there are no acute issues.

+ Does acupuncture hurt?

This is a question that we see a lot. It is OK to have a fear of needles. It is completely understandable to not want a sharp object deliberately placed in your body. Acupuncture does puncture the skin, however not in the same way as a hyperdermic needle. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, in fact 20 acupuncture needles would fit inside a typical hyperdermic needle.

Depending on the area or condition, most patients will feel somewhere between a small amount of pressure, to a slight pinch at the point of insertion.

Once the needles have been placed, most patients will experience a state of calmness and relaxation during the treatment.

+ Should I eat before my appointment?

A good guideline is to eat about two hours before an acupuncture appointment. You don’t want to show up really full, or after having eaten something heavy, fried or spicy, but do not go for acupuncture on an empty stomach. It can leave you feeling lightheaded or physically depleted. If you’re debating whether it’s too close to your appointment to eat, eat. Better to be a little full than distracted by hunger during your appointment. Everyone metabolizes food at different rates, so adjust as you see fit.

+ Should I consult with my physician before having an acupuncture treatment?

If patients would like to discuss scheduling acupuncture by their physicians that is wonderful. Most physicians are big fans of integrative medicine and we often find that illness is treated best with many modalities working together. If a patient feels more comfortable scheduling acupuncture after speaking to their Medical Doctor, then we encourage the conversation. Our main goal is to help patients become well and feel completely comfortable with the process.