Acupuncture is an effective form of health care that has evolved into a complete and holistic medical system. Practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine have used this noninvasive medical system to diagnose and help millions of people get well and stay healthy.

An acupuncturist will place fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints on the body. This activates the body’s Qi and promotes natural healing by enhancing recuperative power, immunity and physical and emotional health. It also can improve overall function and well-being. It is a safe, painless and effective way to treat a wide variety of medical problems.

During the initial exam a full health history will be taken. Questions will be asked regarding symptoms, health and lifestyle. Your acupuncturist also may check pulses and your tongue and may conduct a physical exam. This information is then organized to create a complete, accurate and comprehensive diagnosis of where Qi has become blocked or imbalanced. After the interview process, you may receive an acupuncture treatment. Visits with your acupuncturist may last from thirty to ninety minutes.

There are twelve pulse positions on each wrist that your acupuncturist will palpate. Each position corresponds to a specific meridian and organ. Your acupuncturist will be looking for twenty-seven individual qualities that reflect overall health. If there are any problems, they may appear in the pulse.

The tongue is a map of the body. It reflects the general health of the organs and meridians. Your acupuncturist will look at the color, shape, cracks and coating on your tongue.

Herbs can be a powerful adjunct to acupuncture care. They are used to strengthen, build and support the body or to clear it of excess problems like a cold, fever or acute pain. Your practitioner may suggest starting with herbs and then adding acupuncture to your treatment in the future. This is suggested to build up your internal strength so you can receive the full benefits acupuncture has to offer.

Yes. In some instances children actually respond more quickly than adults. If your child has an aversion to needles, your acupuncturist may massage the acupuncture points. This is called acupressure or tuina.

The number of treatments will vary from person to person. Some people experience immediate relief; others may take months or even years to achieve results. Chronic conditions usually take longer to resolve than acute ones. Plan on a minimum of a month to see significant changes.

Treatment frequency depends on a variety of factors: your constitution, the severity and duration of the problem and the quality and quantity of your Qi. An acupuncturist may suggest one or two treatments per week, or monthly visits for health maintenance and seasonal “tune ups”.

Rates vary and depend upon what procedures are performed. It is best to consult with your acupuncturist about costs.

Insurance coverage varies from state to state. Contact your insurance provider to learn what kind of care is covered. Here are a few questions to ask:

• Will my plan cover acupuncture?
• How many visits per calendar year?
• Do I need a referral?
• Do I have a co-pay?
• Do I have a deductible?
• If yes, has it been met?

• Write down and bring any questions you have. We are here to help you.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing for easy access to acupuncture points.
• Do not eat large meals just before or after
  your visit.
• Refrain from overexertion, working out, drugs or alcohol for up to six hours after the visit.
• Avoid stressful situations. Make time to relax, and be sure to get plenty of rest.
• Between visits, take notes of any changes that may have occurred, such as the alleviation of pain, pain moving to other areas, or changes in the frequency and type of problems.

Acupuncture is extremely safe. It is an all-natural, drug-free therapy, yielding no side effects just feelings of relaxation and well-being. There is little danger of infection from acupuncture needles because they are sterile, used once, and then discarded.

Today, acupuncturists undertake three to four years of extensive and comprehensive graduate training at nationally certified schools. All acupuncturists must pass a national exam and meet strict guidelines to practice in every state.

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems. Below are some of the health concerns that acupuncture can effectively treat:

The FNPA (Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association) consisting of other 4-year Naturopathic Medical School graduates are currently working to re-establish licensure for Naturopathic Physicians in Florida. There have not been any new Naturopathic Physicians licensed in Florida since 1959 when the state legislature closed the ability to grant new licenses. Today, with the overwhelming popularity of a more natural approach to medicine and the need for physician-level practitioners in natural medicine there is growing support for our efforts to reopen Naturopathic Physician licensure in Florida. If you’d like to find out more and help re-establish licensure, please visit the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association website.

The practice of Naturopathic Medicine is legally prohibited in the state of Florida. Florida has not licensed new Naturopathic Physicians since 1959 so I am not licensed as a Naturopathic Physician in Florida. I keep my Naturopathic Physician’s license current in Vermont while we try to reopen licensure in this state. Currently, I practice under the scope of my Acupuncture Physician’s License. The scope of practice for the acupuncture license is very good in Florida. We are considered Primary Care Physicians so we can treat patients without a referral (unless you insurance requires one). The scope of practice includes the ability to order specialized functional medicine testing as well as conventional diagnostic tests, prescribe glandulars, nutritional supplements, herbal and homeopathic medicines, provide Biopuncture, nutritional and prolotherapy injection therapies, counsel on nutrition and healthy lifestyle and perform physical and mind body medicine. For a full description of the Acupuncture Physician scope of practice visit MyFlorida.com and search for the Acupuncture License statutes and rules.

Before your visit you will be asked to fill out a comprehensive intake form to give us a more complete picture of your health history. You will bring any labs or diagnostic reports, supplements, medications and questions you might have to your first visit. Your first visit will usually take about an hour and a half at which time we will review your health concerns, history, lab results, supplements and medications. We will talk about your goals and customize a plan of action most appropriate for your needs. Follow-up visits usually last about an hour and tele-health visits are available upon request.

We focus on optimizing the body’s functioning and promote its own healing ability. The main goal is to establish the foundations of health including improving diet, digestion and elimination, detoxification, hormonal balance, sleep, and relieving pain and stress. We can help facilitate healing whether you are seeking relief from acute illnesses or pain such as the common cold, allergies, sinus infections, back pain or headaches or chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hormone imbalances, digestive disorders, degenerative disease or life threatening illness.

See What We Treat

We are contracted with many major companies and many insurance plans are now offering coverage for Acupuncture and some alternative therapies. Please call the office for more detailed information or submit your information via our “check your coverage” link at the top of the page and we will contact you about your individual coverage.

I do not take anyone off of medication. However, many people require less medication as their health improves. With good follow-up and coordination with a patient’s primary care physician to monitor medication dosage many people have decreased or discontinued their medications safely.