FAQS

Most every day at Desneige Acupuncture and Allergy Care, we receive questions from past, present or future patients regarding different therapies and treatments, fees and rates, appointments and consultations, privacy and confidentiality … you name it.

And, rightfully so, as the history, range, and growth of our center can inspire curiosity, stimulate discussion, promote research, challenge beliefs, and, very often, encourage a life-changing course of treatment of an acute or a chronic medical condition or problem.

While it’s not possible to list every question asked by patients, following is a sampling of the most frequently asked questions involving Acupuncture Therapy, Advanced Allergy Therapeutics, and Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy that we offer at our center:

Acupuncture Therapy

1Is acupuncture safe?
When acupuncture is provided by a trained, certified, and licensed professional, acupuncture is considered quite safe by any measure or standard. If treatment is performed using needles, you can be assured that only sterile, disposable and individually packaged needles are used at our center, as required by law. When magnets are used, which are taped to the skin much like a small adhesive bandage, as are the low-level laser safety tips, the tape is disposed of properly after treatment.
2Is acupuncture painful?

When needles are used as part of an acupuncture treatment, they are ultra-thin and flexible, almost as thin as a strand of hair, thereby permitting a nearly painless (shallow) insertion into the skin at any one of 2,000 or more acupuncture points in the body. A few patients have compared it to the feeling or sensation of a mosquito bite. When magnets or what’s known as low-level lasers are used in acupuncture therapy, it’s safe to say that the treatment is totally free of any pain or sensation.

3Can acupuncture be used to treat children?
Yes. Acupuncture is every bit as effective -- and safe -- in helping children with medical problems as it is in helping adults. In some cases, children actually may respond more quickly to treatment than an adult. In the event that traditional needle acupuncture is to be used as part of the treatment, and your child has an aversion to needles, we have the option to use magnets or lasers in lieu of needles, or even gentle acupressure, as part of the treatment.
4What should I expect as part of my initial visit to the center for an acupuncture treatment?
You can expect to receive a few questions at the start, mostly about your medical history, past and current symptoms, diet, and overall energy level, to name a few, as well as a review of any medical records that you bring to the center. After this part of the appointment is complete, we typically will perform brief, routine palpatory and abdominal diagnostics, along with a quick examination of your body where you are experiencing ache, pain, discomfort or other dysfunction. At this point in your consultation, we usually introduce to you and discuss various therapies and treatment modalities and, based on the symptoms that you have described and relief you are seeking, we often will begin the initial treatment. Altogether, the duration of the first appointment typically is about two hours.
5What if I decide that I don’t want to continue my first acupuncture treatment after it has started?

As the patient who is undergoing treatment, you always are in control; you can stop treatment at any time. Most treatments are performed while you comfortably rest on a padded table or sitting in soft leather reclining chair. The treatment rooms are quiet, with only the sound of soothing music in the background. Most treatment sessions last about 45 to 60 minutes and many patients fall asleep during treatment. While most patients welcome the calm, serene environment during treatment, you have the option to take a short break or discontinue the session if you desire. Every patient is different, so you can be assured that we will accommodate your needs and wishes at all times before, during, and after treatment.

6Do you offer non-needle acupuncture treatments?
Yes. As an alternative to traditional needle acupuncture, we use small round magnets, with or without electro-stimulation (feels like tapping) that are taped to an acupuncture point (instead of the shallow insertion of a needle at this point). We also use low-level lasers that emit a beam of red light, which resembles a laser pointer or a scanner typically used by a cashier when recording the price of an item purchased in a store, for example.
7How often will I need a treatment?

No two patients and their conditions are alike, and because each one responds differently to treatment, it’s virtually impossible to determine or project the length of time or number treatments that will be needed to bring relief and promote healing. However, our goal at the center always has been and always will be to alleviate your symptoms/problems and accelerate your body’s own healing process as quickly as possible.

8Are there any side effects to an acupuncture treatment?
No. Unlike certain medications, for example, acupuncture treatments, whether by needle, magnet, or low-level laser, do not cause side effects other than a feeling of relaxation or slight fatigue during or soon after treatment. In either case, these feelings are short-term and often are followed by a feeling of relief or even enhanced sleep.
9How much does it cost for an acupuncture treatment?
The cost of an acupuncture treatment varies based on the service or therapy that is performed. If the prescribed treatment is expected to involve multiple sessions or appointments, we offer discounted package prices when purchased in advance. Also, we occasionally offer special rates or introductory offers.
10What if I have to use the restroom during treatment?
Each treatment room is equipped with a small bell that is placed within easy reach of each patient, whether resting on a table or sitting in a chair. You may ask for assistance or take a break at any time by gently tapping on the bell.
11What level of privacy is provided at the center?

We provide a discreet, caring environment for all patients at all times. All personal and treatment issues are maintained in the strictest confidence at all times, as well. Often, staff members themselves do not know the purpose or reason for a patient’s visit, consultation, appointment, or treatment.

12What is the confidentiality policy at the center?
The center abides by and adheres to all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards of privacy at all times, without exception.

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics

1Do you think that your allergy therapy can help me get some relief when no other treatments have worked?
Yes. Our Advanced Allergy Therapeutics treatment is like no other allergy treatment because it “identifies” and then “treats” specific organ systems in your body that are involved in triggering or activating the sensitivities or “inappropriate” reactions (symptoms) that you experience when exposed to a particular substance. This therapy is non-invasive and does not use needles in the assessment or treatment of the cause or symptom of your allergy or sensitivity and it does not involve the use of supplements or herbs of any kind.
2What are some examples of sensitivities or “inappropriate” reactions to a particular substance?
A sensitivity or inappropriate reaction may cause symptoms from any organ system in the body. Some systems are prone or likely to react to certain families of allergies or substances, such as the respiratory system reacting to pollen, for instance. However, a substance may affect any organ system, which could cause or result in a multitude of symptoms that vary from person to person. For example, a reaction to wheat may cause or produce hives in one person, digestive problems in another, fatigue in someone else, and wheezing or acid reflux in several others. What makes AAT particularly effective is its ability to address or target the specific organ systems affected by the allergen or so-called offending substance to provide rapid, long-term relief for many patients.
3How long are the treatments or sessions?
If an allergy patient already has not received a health assessment or consultation as part of acupuncture therapy, the initial session or visit takes approximately 45-60 minutes, which includes an assessment or evaluation of the allergy or sensitivity and one treatment. Follow-up treatments or sessions usually are 25-30 minutes in duration.
4How many treatments or sessions do patients typically need to get or feel some relief?
The number of treatments of sessions depends on the number of items causing an allergic or a sensitive reaction. For example, a patient who reacts to five different categories of substances, such as wheat, corn, pollen, dairy, and animal dander, could require 10 or more sessions to obtain noticeable, long-term relief from symptoms or to resolve a condition.
5Are there certain situations or conditions that can’t be treated by AAT?
Yes. While AAT is able to address or treat symptoms caused by inappropriate reactions to certain substances, it can’t alleviate or affect them if the situation or condition involves pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, or parasites). Likewise, AAT is not able to treat lactose intolerance, which is not an allergy but inability to digest certain amounts of lactose, the major sugar found in milk. The condition is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase in the body, which is produced by the cells of the lining in the small intestine. Lactose intolerance is often confused with dairy allergies because the symptoms are similar, yet they are unrelated. If, however, AAT assesses or detects that the symptoms are related to an allergy or sensitivity to milk or other dairy products, AAT treatments can be very effective.
6Do patients need to stop taking any medications before receiving a treatment?
No. Patients do not need to stop taking any medication that has been prescribed by a medical doctor without his/her authorization or approval. They may continue taking over-the-counter medication to control existing symptoms, which does not affect or involve the allergy treatment.
7Can patients receive more than one treatment in the same day?
Yes. Patients can receive up to two treatments in one day. However, the treatments or sessions must be at least two hours apart.
8How long do patients have to wait before they can have contact with the item or items for which they received a treatment?

Following a treatment session, patients should avoid the item(s) for at least two hours, if possible. It is recommended that patients avoid excessive or extended contact with the item(s) until the following day.

9Can children be treated with Advanced Allergy Therapeutics?
Yes, absolutely. AAT is a safe and painless allergy treatment for children of all ages, including infants. And, it’s important to note that it is totally non-invasive and does not involve the use of needles (no shots or injections), supplements, or herbal remedies for relief of symptoms.

Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy

1What makes FSM different from other therapies that treat or address pain and other types of medical conditions?

Every function in the human body is electrically based. The electricity made inside your cells provides energy and power for your body. When micro(electrical)current is applied or introduced to the body at a specific frequency (speed) via FSM therapy, or otherwise at a frequency resembling that which the body naturally produces, the body recognizes the current as its own and responds by trying to “normalize” the condition and help it to recuperate or recover, as well as relieve pain, relax muscles, reduce inflammation, and improve healing at enhanced or accelerated rates, which other therapies or treatments are not able to do or accomplish.

2How do the frequencies work?

FSM is based or works on the principle of biologic resonance or understanding that each cell has an ideal resonant frequency. When the body experiences any type of injury, trauma, stress or increased inflammation, for instance, the normal resonant frequency of the affected tissue is altered. Research and experience shows or demonstrates that micro(electrical)current frequencies can resonate with biologic tissue in the body when the correct or specific frequency is applied or introduced, which can stimulate or activate a repairing or healing response that helps to return the affected tissue back to its normal frequency and, as a result, help to restore balance and comfort in the body.   

3Is FSM therapy really painless?

Yes. The micro-electric currents used in FSM therapy are so low (i.e., sub-sensory) that patients do not feel them. FSM provides electrical current in the millionth of an ampere, which is well below the stimulation threshold of sensory nerves (the body’s own cells generate a current in the microampere range).

4Are there any side effects with FSM therapy?

Side effects of FSM treatments are usually very rare and mild. If any side effect does occur, it likely would include one or more of the following while receiving a treatment or for a brief time after treatment:  

  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Relaxation
5How long does it usually take to notice improvements with FSM therapy?

Every person will respond differently to FSM therapy and while some patients feel measurable changes or improvements in their medical problem or situation following only one therapy session or after just a few treatments, the number or amount of treatments that most patients will need really depends on many factors. These usually include the complexity or severity of their condition and whether it is acute or chronic, as well as their diet, lifestyle, level of inflammation, and underlying health problem(s) and condition(s), for example.   

6Is there anything that I need to do prior to or to prepare for an FSM treatment session?

Because microcurrent frequencies travel most effectively within or through hydrated tissue, it’s recommended that patients drink a good amount of water (preferably at least two cups or about 16 ounces) before and after a treatment. No other preparation is recommended or needed. 

Schedule a Consultation or Treatment

If you are, or someone you know is, interested in receiving treatment with Acupuncture Therapy, Advanced Allergy Therapeutics, or Frequency Specific Microcurrent Therapy, or would like to receive more information about them, please contact Desneige Acupuncture and Allergy Care today to schedule a consultation or to make an appointment.

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