Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an acupuncture treatment cost? The initial treatment is $130. All follow-up treatments are $90. After one year of inactivity, a one-time re-establishment fee of $20 will be charged; all follow-up treatments are $90. Packages are available, please ask for further information. Payment is due at time of service. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.

Do you take insurance? Bloomington Normal Acupuncture does not currently accept insurance, however, we will be happy to provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company.

How long does an acupuncture treatment last? An initial treatment lasts between 45-60 minutes. Subsequent treatments take about 30-40 minutes.

How many acupuncture treatments will I need?  The number of acupuncture treatments needed to resolve your issue will depend on a number of factors; in particular, the severity and duration of the condition, and whether your health concern is chronic or acute.

Treatments are recommended frequently to begin, often weekly for the first few treatments, then less frequently as symptoms improve. A typical rule of thumb is to expect about 6 initial treatments for acute conditions, and about 10 initial treatments for chronic conditions.

What happens during an acupuncture treatment? The first part of the treatment is an interview. We will go over your health concerns, discuss previous treatments, and determine whether you are seeing improvement. After this, I will take your pulse, in both wrists, and ask to see your tongue. The pulse and tongue are diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. I will then ask you to make yourself comfortable on the treatment table while I step out the room. I will tell you where on your body I will be placing acupuncture needles, so that you may remove clothes accordingly, if need be (often no clothing needs to be removed at all). You will never be asked to remove undergarments. Sheets and blankets are provided for comfort. After you have made yourself comfortable on the table, I will return to the room and insert the acupuncture needles. Typically, I will insert 10-12 needles per treatment, depending on the illness. I will leave the room again to let you relax with the needles in place for 20-30 minutes. At this time, I will give you a bell to ring, in case you need me to return to the room for any reason before your allotted time is up. After 20-30 minutes have passed, I will return to the room and remove the needles. I will then leave again so that you may relax, get dressed, and take a moment to gather yourself. Acupuncture is very relaxing and often people need a few minutes to "wake up" after a treatment. When you are ready, you will rejoin me in my reception area where we can make plans for your next treatment.

Does acupuncture hurt? It really doesn't! I practice Japanese Acupuncture, and this means I am trained in painless and gentle needle insertion. Acupuncture needles are a very fine gauge; some are as thin as a piece of hair. Occasionally, patients will feel a slight pinch or a dull, tingling sensation upon insertion of the needle, particularly on parts of the body without a lot of subcutaneous fat (i.e., the hands and feet). However, these sensations dissipate quickly. If a needle ever feels uncomfortable, I am always happy to adjust it or remove it. My goal is to create a relaxing, pain-free experience.

Do you use sterile needles? I only use single-use, disposable, sterile needles.