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What is Holistic Therapy?
Holistic therapy is rooted in the philosophy that human beings are an integrated whole system. It aims to uncover and address the root causes of poor health and improve overall well-being and quality of life by considering all facets of an individual’s life- spirit,mind and body.
Holistic therapy is used to evaluate and elevate a person’s total well-being by looking closely at all aspects of health. The goal is to create a personalized natural health treatment plan that produces no harm, addresses a person’s unique needs and promotes holistic balance and wellness in all areas of an individual’s life.
Holistic Therapy & Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), known simply as acupuncture, is one of the oldest and most commonly used holistic therapies in the modern world. It is a complete holistic system of medical diagnosis and treatment primarily developed in China over thousands of years, and now integrated into modern healthcare settings worldwide.
Acupuncture views the human being as an integrated and indivisible organism consisting of spirit, mind and body. These different aspects are not separate from one another. Rather they work inseparably as a holistic system through mutual and complimentary interactions, and a network of intrinsically dynamic relationships.
Acupuncture does not solely rely on a Western medical diagnosis. Using its own unique system of holistic diagnosis, acupuncture views the body similar to a tree— an interconnected unifying whole system that is in dynamic relationship to its natural environment.
Acupuncture takes into account not just the manifesting symptoms of disease (branch), but it also identifies patterns of imbalance at the root of poor health. This allows acupuncture to address all of a person’s needs simultaneously using highly individualized and complete treatments geared towards vibrancy and preservation.
Acupuncture is named after its popular holistic treatments involving the insertion of very thin therapeutic needles into specific points on the body. However it also includes a variety of other holistic therapeutic practices, such as nutrition therapy, herbal medicine and meditation.
By integrating these different modalities into a cohesive holistic treatment plan, the goal in acupuncture is to promote a person’s natural self-healing capabilities, foster natural balance and cultivate overall well-being.
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FAQs
Unfortunately, there is no straight easy answer. Insurance coverage for acupuncture varies widely among insurance companies both statewide and nationally, with plans requiring certain criteria to be met before coverage is applied. This criteria is not standardized, and insurance companies all make their own policies, including exclusions, limitations and restrictions, regarding acupuncture coverage.
As a result, even when insurance companies advertise they offer acupuncture coverage, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will actually pay for all of it, or even some of it. Most people with an acupuncture-friendly health insurance plan that want to try to use it to pay for acupuncture should expect to accrue at least some out-of-pocket costs, anywhere from co-pays and deductibles to paying for uncovered procedures and products such as herbal medicine and nutritional supplements. It is also not uncommon for acupuncture-related claims to be entirely denied by insurance companies, leaving insured patients responsible for paying the total amount billed.
Fortunately, our office is well-versed on these details to help you understand how and when it is possible to use your insurance to help pay for acupuncture. For more information, or to begin the verification process and request prior authorization for using your PPO insurance with our office, please send us a message.
No, you do not need a referral to receive acupuncture treatment. California acupuncturists are primary care providers and can provide you treatment independently without referral. Some people may seek a doctor referral for acupuncture to try and use their insurance to cover expenses or for help finding a practitioner, but this is not required.
Acupuncture itself is very safe in the hands of a competent practitioner. It generally presents little to no side effects and rarely makes a condition worse. If these do occur it’s usually indicative of the healing process and any ill effects disappear within days of treatment.
However acupuncture is not for everyone, and there are times when precautions must be made. For example, people who are not eligible for acupuncture include those with hemophilia or contagious skin diseases. On the other hand, people on blood-thinning medication, or who tend to bruise easily, or who are pregnant, can receive acupuncture but should disclose their medical history to their acupuncturist prior to treatment so that certain precautions are made.
Where severe danger exists is in the inappropriate application of acupuncture by poorly trained and unskilled non-acupuncture therapists and physicians, many which do not receive the same instruction and training as licensed acupuncturists. To ensure safety when receiving acupuncture, it is highly recommended to use a practitioner who has received proper education and schooling in acupuncture, and is certified and licensed to practice acupuncture by an official governing acupuncture board, agency, or organization.
In general, acupuncture will not minimize any treatment or medication you have used or will use. Recent studies suggest acupuncture may actually enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of other treatments and reduce some of their adverse reactions.
However because acupuncture and some herbal and nutritional supplements prescribed by acupuncturists can sometimes diminish or potentiate the effects of other treatments, it is advisable that you disclose all of your medical history to your acupuncturist, especially if you’re taking medication or are undergoing other types of treatment, or have recently undergone other treatments, so that any precautions can be made prior to treatment. For more information, send us a message.
Depending on the type of service, total visit time is between 60-90 minutes, with 20-75 minute acupuncture treatment time.
Everyone responds to acupuncture differently but in general the approach we use is so gentle and the acupuncture needles we use are so thin that most people won’t even be aware when the needles are inserted. If they feel anything at all, it may be a slight pinch at the site of needle insertion followed by a brief dull ache that dissipates within seconds. Other common sensations felt during treatment include slight tingling, subtle muscle twitching and spasms, heaviness, extreme relaxation, and warmth in the hands and feet.
Most adults looking for a natural approach to health and overall wellness are candidates for acupuncture. But if you have a specific health condition and you’re not sure if acupuncture is right for you, the best way to find out is to request an appointment for an evaluation and consult.
