Frequently Asked Questions

Rarely, and never the way an injection does. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a human hair. Most people feel a brief tap, then a dull, heavy or warm sensation that fades in a few seconds. If any point feels sharp, tell me and I will adjust or remove it.

Your first visit is 90 minutes and costs $150. Follow-ups are 30 minutes for $60, 60 minutes for $95, or 90 minutes with cupping or Tuina for $130. An acute strain or nausea often settles in 1 to 3 visits. Chronic problems take a front-loaded course: sciatica and chronic neck pain about 10 visits over 4 weeks, migraines 8 to 12 visits over 6 to 8 weeks, IBS 2 to 3 short visits a week for 6 weeks.

It depends on what we are treating. Most points are on the arms, hands, lower legs, feet and abdomen, and I can use points in the hands and feet if you would rather stay covered.

Book online at acusimple.com/access/4476, or call or text (720) 285-6251.

I accept cash, all major credit cards and HSA and FSA cards.

I do not bill insurance directly, but I provide a superbill after each visit for you to submit. HSA and FSA cards are accepted, along with cash and all major cards.

Acupuncture is a treatment from traditional Chinese medicine in which I place very thin, sterile needles at specific points on the body. It has been used for over 2,000 years and is most often used for pain, headaches, sleep and stress. The research is stronger for some conditions than others, and the page for each condition says plainly what the studies found.

Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body with very fine needles. In modern terms, that stimulation signals the nervous system to release endorphins and other pain-regulating chemicals, increases local blood flow, calms the "fight or flight" stress response, and reduces inflammation at the site and in the brain's pain-processing centers. In Chinese medicine terms, the points sit on channels that connect the surface of the body to the organs, and treatment restores smooth movement of qi and blood where it has stalled. Both descriptions point to the same result: the body gets a clear signal to repair and regulate itself. I choose points based on your symptoms, your history and what I find on your pulse and in your body, so no two treatment plans are identical.

Acupuncture is considered one of the safer treatments in medicine when a licensed acupuncturist uses sterile, single-use needles. A review of 21 prospective studies found serious side effects in about 1 in 10,000 patients, and about 9 in 100 noticed a minor effect, such as a little bleeding or soreness at a needle site. Tell me about your health history before we start, especially if you are pregnant or take blood thinners.

I treat pain (back, neck, shoulder and knee), headaches and migraines, digestive problems, stress, anxiety and sleep, and women's health. The research is stronger for some of these than others, and the page for each condition says plainly what the trials found. If something sounds like it needs a doctor first, I will tell you.

Side effects are usually mild and short-lived: a little soreness, a small bruise where a needle went in, or feeling relaxed or sleepy afterward. Occasionally someone feels lightheaded, so tell me if you do and I will have you lie down. If anything lingers or worries you, call or text me at (720) 285-6251.

Loose clothes that roll past the knees and elbows are ideal. Undergarments stay on, and I provide draping, so you stay covered except where I am working.

Have a light meal one to two hours before your visit. Skip a big meal or a lot of coffee right before, and drink water as you normally would.

Yes, for back, neck, shoulder, knee and headache pain. The largest analysis, 39 trials with 20,827 patients, found that acupuncture beat both no treatment and sham acupuncture for chronic pain (by a smaller margin against sham), and most of the benefit was still there a year later.

In Colorado, an acupuncturist must hold a state license from the Office of Acupuncture Licensure, and you can look up any license on the state's website. I am licensed in Colorado (license ACU.0002378).

Electroacupuncture connects a small device to the needles, which sends gentle pulses between them. You feel a tapping or tingling, not a shock. It is sometimes used for chronic pain and muscle tightness. If I think it would help you, I will explain it first, and you can always say no.

Acupuncture uses fine needles at specific points. Acupressure uses firm pressure from the fingers or hands at the same points, with no needles. Acupressure is a good option if you do not like needles, and it is part of the Tuina massage I offer.

Take it easy for a few hours, and skip hard exercise and alcohol that evening. Drink water if you are thirsty, and eat something light if you are hungry. Mild soreness usually fades within a day or so. If anything worries you, call or text me at (720) 285-6251.