FAQ

My current availability can be found here. If you are not seeing times that work for you, that means the schedule is not open for the week or month you’re looking at, or there are no open appointments at the moment. Please don’t hesitate to email me and let me know what’s going on anyway — I can always add you to the waitlist for cancellations, and/or I will be happy to refer you to some of the many wonderful practitioners that I know and trust.

My office is currently open for all session types. Feel free to read through our office safety plan. Breathwork and reiki sessions are also available virtually for folks not inclined to come into the office or located outside of NYC.

Breathwork and Reiki sessions are done through Zoom. You’ll receive an email with your Zoom link before your session.

Your appointment time is just for you! Any appointments not canceled or rescheduled more than 24 hours before your appointment time will be charged in full, except in the event you receive a positive COVID-19 test, in which case this fee will be waived.

Payment is due at the time of service, and a credit card is requested to hold appointments. You are welcome to pay for virtual sessions using the credit card provided, or Venmo. For in office appointments, you are welcome to pay using cash, credit/debit card, Venmo, or most FSA/HSA cards (if your service is eligible for coverage in your FSA plan).

It’s becoming more and more rare, but some insurance plans offer acupuncture coverage, so it’s worth checking in with your insurance company about the specifics of your plan to see if any reimbursement is available. If your plan offers out of network acupuncture coverage I am happy to provide superbills (detailed coded invoices) for your visits so that you may seek reimbursement from your insurance provider. Please be aware that in 2024, the vast majority of insurance plans either do not offer any acupuncture coverage, or dramatically limit acupuncture coverage to one or two specific health concerns within specific parameters. You may also be required to obtain a referral from your medical doctor or pre-apply for medical necessity approval.

I can also accept FSA/HSA cards for payment; I highly recommend setting those up if you have access to them through your employer or health insurance plan but haven’t gotten started yet.

Thanks for thinking of offering a healing session to your friend or loved one. Digital gift cards are available here in denominations that fit my current service prices, or you can choose a custom amount.

Gift cards may be applied to private sessions only, and cannot be applied to workshop registration or digital or physical goods.

Acupuncture addresses the root causes of illness. Instead of focusing exclusively on the signs and symptoms (the branches), practitioners investigate and treat the fundamental imbalance (the root) that is underlying the patient's symptoms using channels and points that have decreased electrical resistance, increased conductance, and the ability to influence fascia, organs, and multi-level healing processes throughout the body. Acupuncture stimulates and has lasting effects on:

The Autonomic Nervous System — reduces blood pressure and controls skin temperature, muscle sympathetic nerve activities, heart rate and/or pulse rate, and heart rate variability

Neurotransmitters — increases endogenous opioid peptides, serotonin, and dopamine, which is one of the reasons it’s often used for pain conditions

The Immune System — boosts red and white cell counts, T-cell count, and can benefit humoral and cellular immunity. Speeds the clearing of inflammation and the healing from infection.

Scientists are still working towards a complete understanding of everything that is going on in the body during and after an acupuncture treatment, but the big picture includes elements of the above, plus more that we haven't yet figured out how to recognize, measure, or synthesize with the scientific tools currently available. One of the best books I’ve read about how recent discoveries in modern physiology confirm what the Chinese classical texts have described for the past 2,000+ years is The Spark in the Machine, which I highly recommend reading.

Acupuncture should never be painful. That said, you may feel some kind of sensation for a couple of seconds after the needles go in — often described as a heaviness, a sense of movement, a release, a quick jump, an electric ping, warmth, or coolness. Like so much in Chinese medicine, the experience is individual, and it can change from treatment to treatment.

It depends. I often recommend a series of weekly or biweekly treatments at the beginning, because the good effects of Chinese medicine tend to build much more rapidly when the treatments are closer together. Some people experience big improvements in just a few treatments, while others benefit more from regular treatments or monthly tune-ups over the long term to keep things balanced and prevent flare ups. Whatever your health goals are, we will discuss the options and make a sustainable plan together.

A long history of clinical experience, followed by a growing body of modern clinical research, demonstrates that acupuncture and other modalities of Chinese medicine are as or more effective than conventional Western-style treatment for a long, diverse list of health conditions. Here's a snapshot of the World Health Organization's comprehensive list.

Especially common in NYC — headaches, insomnia, stress, anxiety / depression, fatigue, back pain, life changes + transitions, acne / dermatological issues, quitting smoking + addiction recovery

Reproductive health — infertility, nausea + pregnancy support, menstrual pain / cramps, PMS, leukorrhea, PCOS, menopause

Digestive disorders — pain, nausea, ulcers, acid reflux, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, constipation + diarrhea, parasites

Musculoskeletal + nerve — joint + muscle ache + pain, repetitive stress injuries, recovery from injury + surgery, sciatica, osteoarthritis, numbness + tingling, dental pain, TMJ

Autoimmune + neurobiological — hypothyroid, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia

Bacterial + viral — common cold + flu, cough, sinus infections, Herpes Zoster / shingles

And more — diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer support, asthma, tinnitus, psoriasis, eczema, kidney stones

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are not a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment, but are commonly used alongside other forms of treatment.

Nope! Of course, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are great if you have a health condition, but many people choose to receive it to preserve and enhance their health and vitality, and to prevent flare ups or the return of conditions they’ve had in the past.

Yes, absolutely — acupuncture is an incredibly safe modality to receive during pregnancy. It has been studied extensively and is effective in the treatment of nausea and vomiting, blood pressure regulation, musculoskeletal pain, headaches and migraines, and digestive issues, all of which are all common during pregnancy.

Many people come in while pregnant to continue receiving support for their preexisting health conditions, or for help with morning sickness, while others show up during the 3rd trimester for things like back and sciatic pain, GERD, or to prepare for labor. Some people choose to receive acupuncture treatment throughout pregnancy because it helps them with circulation, pain, sleep, and stress. It's up to you to decide what feels right and supportive for your pregnancy!

The birthworkers in my network tell me that they suggest acupuncture to their clients because they consistently see a noticeable difference in how labor and delivery goes for people who have received at least a few sessions while pregnant, versus those who haven't. Please talk with your other healthcare providers about their experience and suggestions, and how those might apply to you.

Cupping has been in continuous use around the world for a long, long time. While cupping was and continues to be widespread in Asia, it was also part of traditional medical practices throughout the Middle East, Russia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa, and was in use in the West until the mid-1800s.

These days, cupping is practiced primarily by trained practitioners (such as licensed acupuncturists) who use round suction cups made of glass or plastic. Recent clinical research has demonstrated it to be effective for the following:

Chronic low back pain

Many different pain conditions, including: joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, menstrual pain, digestive pain, and Herpes zoster / shingles

Breathing, whether alleviating asthma, cough, or the onset of a common cold

Fever reduction

Decreasing oxidative stress, by removing oxidants from the body — this is why athletes are fans, as it speeds recovery from injury and training

Cupping does not hurt; the suction creates a unique sensation, often compared to a deep massage, which most patients enjoy and relax into. You may also be surprised to learn that the marks left are not bruises, which are caused by trauma and tearing of capillaries, which are usually then painful or tender to touch as they heal. Cupping marks are the result of lactic acid, toxins, dead red blood cells, and lymph being drawn out of stuck places; these substances are then removed through the increased microcirculation of fresh blood and lymph stimulated by the cupping. Cupping marks are almost never tender to touch and, visually, look very different from bruises as they heal and clear. After a session, the marks left by the cups (if any!) may take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks to completely clear.

In addition to being a treatment in itself, cupping is a valuable diagnostic tool — not all cupping marks are created equal, and the color and intensity of the marks that appear show practitioners a lot of detailed information about your injury and/or underlying health issues.

I may decline to use cupping as part of your treatment, as it is not appropriate for everyone —the very weak or immune-compromised are not good candidates for this therapy, nor is anyone with any kind of active dermatological condition, skin injury, or open wound.

Gua sha is a lesser known but powerful technique that involves the light stroking of the skin to promote healing underneath the skin. While gua sha technique can be performed anywhere on the body and in many clinical situations, it is most often applied to the neck and back, and it is called for when there is pain.

When you intentionally stroke the skin in one direction, you activate the most superficial level of fascia, which in turn activates both deep layers of fascia and organs far from the site of the stroking. This releases deep muscle tension, increases microcirculation, and causes vasodilation, all associated with pain reduction. Clinical research has demonstrated that gua sha immediately reduces pain near the site of application and far from the site of application, making it a great treatment method for any type of pain in the body (new, old, musculoskeletal, organ, digestive, headache, or more).

In addition, clinical trials have shown that gua sha stimulates the production of heme-oxygenase-1, an antioxidant that is part of the anti-inflammatory cascade. This has a wide-ranging relevance, as many illnesses include an inflammatory response; research shows gua sha is effective in cases of hepatitis, mastitis, digestive disorders, and breathing disorders (such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD). In addition, gua sha causes sweating, which helps the body resolve fevers (think sudden onset of a cold, which is often accompanied by a slight fever).

Let’s say you’ve been having some muscle tension and pain in your upper back, between your shoulder blades. I may apply a lubricant such as massage cream or an aromatic oil to your neck, upper back, and middle back, and then, using a round-edged tool (such as the lip of a disposable metal jar cap, or a specially made jade or bone gua sha tool), lightly stroke the surface of the skin in one direction. Within a few seconds, this stroking will bring some red or purplish dots or coloration to the surface of the skin around the area where you’ve been feeling the pain.

As the patient, you may be so relaxed that you fall asleep during the gua sha session, or, it may be a little uncomfortable, depending on the type of pain you’ve been experiencing. Patients may feel immediate relief from their pain, increased range of motion or freedom of movement, relaxation, an energized or elated feeling, welcome changes in temperature (such as warmth when you’ve been feeling too cold, or finally sweating when you’ve had a fever), or changes in other symptoms such as wheezing.

I use Fullscript to make and track supplement suggestions; you are welcome to sign up for Fullscript here to view my favorites or place an order from their entire catalog if you’d like. My preferred brands for supplements include: Innate Response, Klaire Labs, Integrative Therapeutics, Nordic Naturals, and Quicksilver Scientific.

My preferred brands for Chinese herbal formulas are: Evergreen Herbs, Classical Pearls, Kan Traditionals, and custom formulas from Kamwo and Crane Herb Company.

I might suggest a single herb in powder or tincture form. My preferred brands for single herbs are: Root and Bones, Rainbo, Sun Potion, Avena Botanicals, and Gaia Herbs.

My preferred brands for ethically sourced, organic or wildcrafted pure essential oils are: Snow Lotus, Stillpoint Aromatics, Aromatics International, Enfleurage, and Original Swiss Aromatics.

I might suggest exploring flower essences; you might consider working with a trained flower essence practitioner, or learn about them on your own. As I am not a practitioner, I can only speak to my personal experience; I have had great experiences with essences from Delta Gardens, Alaska Essences, Sister Spinster, and Floracopeia, in addition to custom blends formulated by professional practitioners.

I use Fullscript to make and track supplement suggestions; you are welcome to sign up for Fullscript here to view my favorites or place an order from their entire catalog if you’d like. My preferred brands for supplements include: Innate Response, Klaire Labs, Integrative Therapeutics, Nordic Naturals, and Quicksilver Scientific. tion