Our nonprofit offers acupuncture and Chinese herbs as an affordable public health service. You can use Chinese Medicine for various reasons and for as long as you want. There are no memberships or huge financial commitments. Our mission is to expand access to Chinese Medicine while giving everyone in the community more options regarding their personal health care.
But just like any other service, you may be wondering how it would best work for you.
1. What does Chinese Medicine treat?
The list is rather long. If you’re not dealing with an emergency or have something contagious, then our community clinic is worth checking out. Since opening in 2016, we’ve found our services to be especially helpful for women’s health concerns like painful menstruation, fertility and fibroids. We also see success with migraines, digestive issues, the side effects of chemo and radiation, insomnia, anxiety and asthma. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can improve chronic conditions that Western Medicine hasn’t quite completely figured out like fibromyalgia.
2. How will I know if Chinese Medicine is right for my situation?
Clear communication with our patients is very important for clinical success. We encourage you to ask questions you may have. During your initial consultation, we’ll also help you determine a treatment plan which is important for getting results. If there is a rare instance where we don’t feel acupuncture or herbs are a good fit, we’ll waive the fee for the appointment.
3. How much does it cost?
Our pricing options are:
- $20 – $40 for return patients
- $50 for new patients
For your first visit, the fee is $50 for consultation and acupuncture. Our initial consultation is much longer than your return visit consults will be. This gives us the time to gather all the information we need, answer any questions you may have and create a treatment plan for you.
Our return patient visits are on a sliding scale that ranges from $20 – $40. You pay whatever you want in that range for each visit. No questions asked and you can pay $20 one visit and another amount on the next. Each visit is what you feel is appropriate for your circumstances at the time.
Herbs are extra if we decide they’re appropriate for your condition. They run $13 for a week supply.
We accept either cash, credit cards or Health Savings Account (HSA) cards. Please no checks.
4. How do I dress for the treatment?
There is no undressing in our group treatment area. Just wear loose clothing, preferably shorts or pants that can be rolled up past your knees and elbows. If you are getting treated for upper back, neck or shoulder pain, please bring a top that exposes your shoulders and most of your upper back including your shoulder blades. A racer back tank top (low cut in the back) or top with spaghetti straps is ideal.
5. Do you have a cancellation policy if I can’t make it to my appointment?
Please give us 24 hours notice should you need to reschedule an appointment. Any appointment cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will incur a $35 fee for new patients. We understand that sometimes emergencies happen so if that’s the case, just communicate with us and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
You can also manage your appointment from the email confirmation that is sent when you book an appointment. There are links to reschedule or cancel at the bottom of the email.
6. Can I bring food and drinks into the clinic?
For safety and hygiene reasons, we ask that you please don’t bring any food or drink into the clinic. If you need to bring water, a nonbreakable container with a closed lid is ok. However, they must be left in the waiting room and not brought into the treatment area. Open containers, glass bottles and to-go cups are strictly prohibited.
7. Do the needles hurt?
Acupuncture is nothing like a shot at the doctor’s office. The needles are much thinner and have a hair like appearance. Most patients don’t feel anything at all. Others may feel a slight heavy, tingling or electric sensation that goes away quickly. Most patients say that after the needles are in, they start to feel very relaxed and want to take a nap.
8. Is acupuncture safe?
Absolutely. We use sterile, single use only, disposable needles. Our acupuncturists are also licensed by the state of Georgia and have over 3000 hours of training.
The most common, yet infrequent, side effect a patient may have is mild bruising after a needle is taken out. This usually goes away in a couple of days and is not painful. Most people don’t bruise but those who are on blood thinners, for instance, may be more likely to experience this.
9. How long does an appointment last?
Your first visit can take up to 90 minutes depending on the complexity of what you want treated. For return visits, it’s best to usually allot a little over an hour. However, if it at any time you feel you are done and ready to go, just let us know.
10. How long do I have to come in for treatments?
There is no definite answer for that because everyone comes in for different reasons. During your first visit, we’ll suggest a treatment plan for your condition. In the end though, it’s your decision and you can visit us whenever you prefer.
Some patients will have conditions that only require a few treatments and then they’re done. Others have conditions that may never completely go away but find that regular acupuncture greatly reduces their discomfort. In those cases, we aim to get you to the point where you’re enjoying life again and only coming in on a very conservative schedule.
11. How do I make an appointment?
The easiest way is to book online. You can also give us call, especially if you have any questions. We also take same day appointments. We usually can’t take walk-ins though so it’s best to call in advance.
12. Can I get a private treatment?
We do not offer private treatments. But your intake is private so that your medical history remains confidential.
13. Can I have my cellphone on in the treatment room?
We ask that all cellphones and mobile devices are turned off in the clinic. This will ensure that no one else is disturbed by any interruptions and not cause you distractions that would reduce the effectiveness of your session. No pets are allowed either except service animals.