Frequently Asked Questions

Call (530) 345-5300 or book online to make an appointment. We often have same-day appointments. You’ll need about an hour for your first visit, depending on how long you rest. You’ll fill out paperwork, meet with the acupuncturist, and then you’ll get treated.

Acupuncture can treat almost anything. Generally, people use acupuncture to help with specific pain, illness, or discomfort that they’re currently having or they may seek help with a problem that comes and goes. Using acupuncture as part of your regular “health tool kit” will increase energy, reduce stress, and support your immune system.

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The National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization recognize acupuncture as an effective treatment for about four dozen common conditions including:

Acute & Chronic Pain

Headache, joint, back, sports injury

Cardiovascular

Hypertension, circulation, heart surgery recovery

Digestive

IBS, IBD, reflux, nausea & vomiting

Immunity

Autoimmune disease, infection, poor immune system, UTI

Lung and Sinus

Sinus infection, cough, postnasal drip, asthma, cold & flu, allergy

Mental Health

Anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia

Neurologic

Trigeminal neuralgia, bell’s palsy, peripheral neuropathy, migraine

Pediatric

Teething, ear infection, digestive upset, emotional wellness

Reproductive

Menstrual health, fertility, pregnancy, menopause, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction

Other

Addiction, cancer treatment side effects, diabetes

Improving your health with acupuncture (like most modalities) is a process. During your initial visit, an experienced acupuncture clinician will review your patient intake form and advise you on a treatment plan that is best suited for your situation and condition. Your treatment takes place in a community setting with several patients in one spacious, quiet room. During treatment, you will relax in a comfortable recliner.

Effects of the treatment can be very instantaneous, with some patients even experiencing immediate pain relief. In many cases, it is most effective to receive regular treatments over an extended period of time (e.g. 10 treatments over 2-10 weeks). You don’t have to have any specific condition to be treated, either. You might just want to maintain optimal health and balance your mood.

Treatment plans can consist of anywhere from 1-12 treatments at a frequency of 1-3 times per week. Generally speaking, acute and new conditions will require less treatment than those that have been present for a longer time.

Generally speaking — 10 treatments is an initial course of treatment. The entire course of treatment depends on the issue and the individual. There is no limit or minimum, however.

Acute or Severe

Daily

3-14 days if often enough for acute conditions.

Moderately Severe

3x per Week

For when you’re close to the end of your rope.

Moderate

2x per Week

Twice a week is also good for chronic or long-term conditions.

Chronic

Once a Week

Also for retention and wellness, and during cold, flu, or allergy season.

We recommend a minimum of 20 minutes for your session. People can rest for up to 40 minutes. If you book an appointment, please show up at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment time so you can get checked in and situate yourself comfortably in your chair by the time of your appointment.

We gently place the needles on your arms, legs, and other areas that are reached while you are fully dressed and resting in a recliner. These “distal” (situated away from the center of the body) points can treat problems such as back pain, as well as internal disorders.

Usually, our patients find it painless. We use hair-thin, sterile, single-use, disposable needles. There may be a temporary discomfort when the needles are inserted, but once they are in, most people find the treatment very relaxing and regularly fall asleep.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture regulates the flow of energy or Qi in the body. When there is a blockage or imbalance in the energy, it can cause general health issues, pain, malfunction, or disease. Western science has shown that acupuncture releases the body’s natural pain killers (endorphins), reduces inflammation, and increases blood flow essential to proper body function. Acupuncture puts patients into their parasympathetic state (rest and digest), which allows the body to heal and regenerate.

We can treat you in whatever you’re wearing. We recommend comfortable clothing, if possible, so you can easily roll up sleeves and pant legs to your knees and elbows. You can remove your socks, but you will be fully clothed during your treatment.

Certain conditions respond very well to a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. For example allergies, symptoms of the common cold and flu, and digestive disorders can all be helped with the right combination of herbs. Chronic inflammatory conditions, auto-immune, and hormonal conditions are also good candidates for herbal support. We make recommendations from our herbal pharmacy of quality herbs sourced from highly reputable suppliers. Often your acupuncturist can make herb prescriptions for you as part of your acupuncture visit. If more time is needed, your acupuncturist will let you know and we’ll schedule you for an herbal consultation. Herbal consultations are $40-80 sliding scale and do not include the cost of herbs. A month of herbs costs between $30-$100.

Chico Community Acupuncture charges a $40-$80 sliding scale for acupuncture and cupping treatment, and herbal consultation. We want you to pay no more than you can afford. Your treatment is not affected by how much you pay. An additional $15 first-visit fee applies to new patients.

We prefer cash. We also accept credit cards, checks, debit cards, and HSA cards.

Yes, we accept Health Savings Accounts.

Do I need to go home and go to bed? Is it safe to drive? Can I expect immediate pain relief?

Everyone is different. Most people don’t experience any functional impairment. Conversely, many people experience relief from chronic pain while they are in the chair, and can experience results lasting for extended periods of time. Often, patients experience general relaxation and feel more energized as well as calmer following their session. You may notice improvements in your sleep.

We recommend not doing something too extreme (such as vigorous exercise, sauna, or cold plunge) up to 2 hrs after your treatment. As a general rule, it is safe to drive and resume normal function. You don’t need to go to bed afterwords unless that is what you feel would benefit you most.

No, you don’t. It even works on animals, children, and skeptics a like.

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Recommended Links

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy

Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain

Recommended Book

Why Did You Put That Needle There?

Our patients often start to wonder what exactly acupuncture is doing, how these tiny needles make them feel so good, or why we put needles in the hand for back pain. Fellow community acupuncture clinic owner, Andy Wegman, wrote a little book that covers all the basic acupuncture-related questions. You can listen to him read his book, download it for free, or buy a copy from Amazon. We also have copies for perusing or for purchase in our clinic lobby.

Recommended Documentary

"Community Acupuncture: The Calmest Revolution Ever Staged!"

Filmed by Brian Lindstrom and co-produced by community acupuncturist, Jessica Feltz, this 35-minute film follows six diverse community acupuncture patients and shows the impact of affordable acupuncture on their lives and communities. Lindstrom tells the story of the community acupuncture movement: how a small group of loud-mouthed, over-educated, under-employed activists and a massive group of ordinary people with average incomes revolutionized healthcare services by using large empty rooms, old recliner chairs, and two-cent needles.

To cancel your appointment, we need 24 hrs’ notice before your appointment. Less than 24 hours or no-shows will be charged a $20 cancellation fee. Please call us if you need to reschedule. See individual massage therapists for their cancellation policies.

Yes, we can bill your insurance. Please complete insurance verification under the “Cost and Insurance” Menu item at the top of the website.