Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture painful?
Pain is one way our bodies dialogue with our conscious mind. It calls attention to something out of balance. Acupuncture, in general, can be relatively painless. There may be a slight sting when the acupuncture needle is inserted but the feeling is not the pinch from a shot at the western doctor. Once inserted an acupuncturist will try to have the qi (vital energy) arrive. This feeling may manifest itself in different ways. Sometimes it is "painful," sometimes nothing is felt. It may feel heavy or light, hot or cold, moving in a direction or felt in a completely different part of the body. The important thing to remember is to communicate your feelings to your practitioner.
How safe is Chinese herbal medicine?
Chinese herbs are normally safe when provided by a nationally certified, licensed practitioner and strict international guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of Chinese herbs and formulas. There are growers, processing plants and distributors that do not use these ethical practices but New Hope OM strives to order herbs and formulas that meet cGMP standards.
What is gua sha?
Gua sha (pronounced 'gwah sah' or 'gwah shah') is a form of massage uses spoons or other small objects to break up adhesions, move lymph and refresh blood in the muscle. In chiropractic work this is known as instrument assisted soft tissue massage (IAST) or abrasion therapy. At the first hearing of skin scraping, as its sometimes known, many people shy away from this modality but after trying it for the first time have enjoyed the feeling and benefits. Because the body has different levels, Gua Sha is done at different depths depending on the illness. Most often Gua Sha is used for musculoskeletal injury and does not need to be very deep however some illnesses will need a deeper sort of pressure. After the treatment there may be redness or even a sort of bruising on the skin. Like cupping therapy, this is the desired result of a successful therapy and completely normal. Note that this discoloration will recede after a few days but ask your practitioner about and concerns you may have before and/or after the treatment.
Does New hope OM submit insurance claims?
The short answer is no, we do not file insurance claims for our clients. Generally, however, acupuncture is covered by most health insurance providers for many conditions and New Hope OM is not set up at this moment to file insurance claims. Patients are encouraged to fill out an insurance claim with their carrier to determine if acupuncture is covered. You will be offered an option to receive a receipt at the end of the treatment of your visit including all CPT codes used to file with your medical insurance provider. Additionally NHOM offers Prompt Pay Packages to reduce the out of pocket cost when not working with your insurance provider.