acupuncture FAQ

Introducing: Virtual Treatments with At Home Acu-kits!

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Here at AcuPUNKture, we are planning ahead in case we are not able to safely re-open our doors to the public in 2 weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak and current need for quarantine and social distancing.

 

Over the next couple of weeks we will be preparing for and piloting Virtual treatments  in which existing clients can book tele-treatments with us and enjoy a guided treatment from the comfort of their homes. During these sessions we will communicate via phone or video-chat while I guide you through the treatment. Prior to this appointment I will send out an “At home Acu-kit” to your home with all the essentials needed for 4+ treatments.

 

If you have acupuncture coverage through insurance, you will be able to utilize insurance with these treatments as I will be guiding you on insertion points for applying press-needles along with magnets, essential oils, salves, gua-sha for myofacial release and more. Out of pocket price for treatment will be $70 and includes your at home Acu-kit. All modalities of payment currently used at the office will be accepted including flex-spending and HMO accounts.

 

This is what Japanese acupuncture is all about- Using all of our modalities and “tricks in our tool box” to achieve powerful treatments when we can only do minimal needle insertions!

 

During your 60 minute tele-consult & treatment I will also be available to answer any self-care questions and recommend any nutritional or supplementation advice. For clients that already have an at home cupping set or wish to purchase an inexpensive set for guided at home application this is available also.

 

Each kit will be customized and may contain: 
-A Gua sha spoon for guided myofascial/muscle release
-Mini essential oil bottles filled with Snow Lotus Organic essential oils tailored to the client’s specific/usual needs- we can discuss prior to sending out
-15 Ibuki moxa (stick-on moxa)
-One 10 pack of 800 gaus reusable acu-magnets (able to continue to wear after session and reapply later)
-Two 12,000 gaus reusable magnets (very strong for use only during session)
-20 Pyonex press needles
-20 Ear Press balls with picture reference cards of applicable ear points
-Small Gemstones appropriate for each client (if desired)
-1 Therapeutic Organic Essential Oil infused Epsom Salt packet for soaking
-1 roll of micropore tape for taping magnets and crystals to acu-points

 

We realize this type of treatment may not work for everyone and that is totally okay! We also realize that even if we are able to reopen our doors to the general public- our severely immune-compromised clients maybe not be able to physically come in to the office for fear of catching COVID-19 and therefore they can utilize this type of treatment in the future.

 

If you are interested in this new venture please reach out to us at bostonacupunkture@gmail.com

 

This is going to be new for everyone, including us, and there will be some kinks to work out both via the booking website, getting your your acu-kit in a timely manor and connecting via online in a HIPPA-compliant way, but we look forward to this new journey with you and helping to continue care for our wonderful clients while promoting love, light and healing during this unknown, dark and scary time.

 

Welcome our new part-time Associate Acupuncturist: Mary Maresca, LAc.!

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mary pic

Mary is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture where she completed a Masters Degree in Chinese and Japanese acupuncture styles. She is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Medicine and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Mary has been involved in energy healing since the early 1990’s. She is certified in Healing Touch and has been a Reiki practitioner since 2009. Mary continues to pursue advanced training in the Dr. Tan Balance Method of acupuncture, Medical Qi Gong and the therapeutic use of Essential Oils. She also works in the Behavioral Health Department at Fenway Health as a Detox Acupuncturist.

While acupuncture addresses a wide array of conditions, Mary has special interest in pain management, musculoskeletal issues, migraine, mental health, and cancer treatment-related symptoms. Using acupuncture, cupping, kineseo-taping and oils, Mary brings thoughtful and compassionate care to help patients access their own innate healing ability.

In her own quest for a well-balanced life, Mary makes time for gardening,
watercolor painting, reading and meeting new people.

Mary’s appointment availability:

2 Saturdays per month 8-3:30pm & Thursday nights (starting in July): 4-8pm.

She is able to see all insurance patients currently seeking treatment at AcuPUNKture and is now booking appointments!

Price Changes in effect January 2018

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Attention Patients:

Due to an increase in expenses over the past 2 years, AcuPUNKture’s Cash/Credit Rates will be Increasing starting January 1, 2018.

We are pleased to have been in business with you over the past 2 years. Since opening our doors in October 2015, we have not raised the prices of our services despite the continuous rise in expenses.

There has been an undeniable rise in prices of materials, rent and utilities since we first opened. In light of this increase and in order to continue to provide our patients with the best possible, comprehensive treatments, we can no longer avoid either sacrificing level of care or raising our prices.

Since we have never compromised the quality of our services even in the hardest of times and we endeavor to keep going with the agenda of excellent quality, we feel that an increase in price is a necessity. This will allow us to continue to offer services such as cupping, moxa, essential oils, take home magnets and teas in conjunction with your acupuncture sessions.

Below are the details of our new price tariffs. We look forward to your cooperation in the process and hope to continue being in business with you in the New Year.

To help offset this rise in out of pocket costs:
We will be offering you the opportunity through the month of December to prepay for future services at your current treatment rate.

 

Starting January 1, 2018 new prices will come into effect:

Initial Consultation and First Time acupuncture Treatment: $110

Follow-up Acupuncture Treatment: $90

Follow-up pre-paid packages: 4 prepaid treatments for $320 (10$ off- $80 per session)

Cancellation policy: 24 hours notice is required or a 50$ charge will be applied. This fee is not covered by insurance.

 

Food for thought/ Insurance options: It is now open enrollment for 2018 Health Care in Massachusetts. Your plan may have an option to cover acupuncture services- if this is of interest to you we highly suggest calling your HR department or inquiring with your Insurance provider about adding Acupuncture Benefits to your plan.

We also accept Flex Spending and HAS accounts.

Thank you for your understanding,

Crystal Meyers, LAc., Owner

Health Insurance- Open Enrollment and Acupuncture Coverage!

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Did you know that more and more Health Insurance plans are starting to cover Acupuncture Services?

Right now is open enrollment for Insurance Healthcare 2018– see if your plan has an option for Acupuncture Coverage and start your journey to a healthier you today!

Plans we currently accept:
Neighborhood Health Plan
BMC HealthNet
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Commonwealth Care Alliance/One Care
Celticare
Fallon
Blue Cross Blue Shield MA
Tufts Community Health
Aetna
Cigna
Health Net Federal Services

If you are wondering if your plan covers acupuncture, give us a call and we will be happy to check for you: 617-971-8623

Seeing is believing!

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This is SO cool! So many of us who have tried acupuncture and FELT the ‘De Qi’ Sensations at different acupuncture points along the body know that the acupuncture points exist, but now we can SEE it with this New CT scan technology.

Check it out!

Article: Acupuncture Points Getting’ Real

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What does YOUR tongue say about you?

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Whether or not you pay attention to the signs, or choose to listen to it, your body is constantly telling you about the state of your health! These subtle signs are right there in front of you- from aches and pains, to slight variations in the color of your skin in certain areas of your face, to the ever-changing qualities of your pulse and even the details of your tongue!

That’s right your tongue!

Believe it or not, your tongue changes over time. The thickness of your tongue and tongue coating, the color, the shape, how swollen or thin it is, canker sores in certain spots- they all tell a tale of what is going on deep within your body- in the places you can’t see. Each part of the tongue corresponds to a different organ in your body:

tongue organs

Diagnosing:

As Acupuncturists practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine we observe many different characteristics in each of our patients in order to form a complete diagnosis. This includes: Asking questions about signs and symptoms and looking at health history forms, Observing the patient’s demeanor- how they talk, how they sit, if they are fidgeting or lethargic, how their spirit conveys through their eyes, the different colors in their face, their personality, etc., Feeling their pulse rates in three positions on each wrist, Feeling certain areas of the abdomen during Hara diagnosis (Japanese Style Acupuncture) and Observing the qualities of the tongue.

When you come in for an Acupuncture appointment, you might find it weird that I ask you to stick out your tongue- but this is a key diagnostic tool I use to confirm my diagnosis! So take a look in the mirror and look at your friend/spouse/neighbor/child’s tongue and compare it to your own. You will notice they are all different!

Below is a chart with 9 common TCM syndromes and their respective tongues:

which tongue are you

Healthy Tongue: A healthy tongue is naturally pink with a thin white coating.

Sometimes, temporary changes in color can occur due to certain foods staining the tongue such as blackberries, or coffee and cigarettes turning your tongue coat a yellow tinge.

Here are some characteristics I look for in my patients’ tongues. For detailed information on what each characteristic means, please visit: Yin Yang House

Color: Pink (normal), Pale, Red, Dark Red, Purple, Blue

Tongue Coating (Good indicator of Stomach and Spleen Qi): 

Overall: Thin, thick, dry, moist, wet, sticky (greasy/creamy)

Color: White, Yellow, Gray, Black

Rooting: Rooted (moss appears firmly implanted in tongue), Rootless (Moss appears to float on the surface), Peeled or Patchy

Sub-linguals (the veins underneath your tongue): Swollen, Purple, Blue

Body Shape: Cracked,  Deviated (crooked), Flaccid, Long, Short (contracted), Rigid, Stiff, Swollen, Thin, Thorny, Trembling (quivering)

Pretty cool right?

So next time you are in for your treatment, ask me what I see when I look at your tongue and we can look at it together!