Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is acupuncture used for?
2. Is acupuncture recognized by the World Health Organization?
3. Is acupuncture recognized by the National Institutes of Health?
4. Does acupuncture hurt?
5. Does acupuncture have any side effects?
6. What do I have to do to prepare for my acupuncture treatment?
7. How long does the acupuncture session last?
8. Does Elements in Harmony bill insurance companies?
9. What forms of payments do you accept?
10. What qualifications are required to practice acupuncture in the state of California?
11. What kind of schooling is required of a licensed acupuncturist?
12. What is one of the best websites to research about Chinese medicine?
13. Why did you decide to go into Chinese medicine for a living?

Acupuncture is beneficial for everyone. You do not need anything wrong with your health in order to receive acupuncture.

Acupuncture’s notoriety is for the treatment of musculo-skeletal pain. At Elements in Harmony, we focus on Balance Method acupuncture. Most of our patients feel a 10-100% improvement of pain within six seconds of needles being placed in the body. Our intentions are for long-term results. We have a high success rate in the prevention of surgery. Some of the types of pain we encounter at our clinic are:

• Sciatica/low back pain
• Frozen shoulder
• Trigger finger
• Knee pain
• Neck and shoulder pain and tightness
• Carpel tunnel syndrome
• We also strengthen the body for pre-operative conditions and assist with speeding up the recovery process after surgery.

Acupuncture is beneficial for almost any type of internal disorder. Some of the conditions that we have treated with great success include:

• Depression
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Hypertension
• Menstrual disorders
• Inducing labor
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ear aches
• Migraines/headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Neuropathy
• Insomnia
• Substance abuse and addictions

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2. Is acupuncture recognized by the World Health Organization?

Yes!

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3. Is acupuncture recognized by the National Institutes of Health?

Yes!

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4. Does acupuncture hurt?

Almost every patient in our clinic would say that they do not mind the acupuncture needling. Pain is subjective from patient to patient. The best way for you to figure out if you like acupuncture done is to just try it. Keep in mind that every artist has a different technique. No two acupuncturists are alike. If you had a bad experience with acupuncture before, it was probably because of the practitioner’s energy. If you are willing to retry acupuncture, then give us a chance. We are certain that you will feel comfortable with our style of acupuncture and approach to healthcare. If you do not, we are more than willing to extend the contact information of our esteemed colleagues at other clinics.

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5. Does acupuncture have any side effects?

When practiced properly, acupuncture’s only side effects can be
bruising. Bruising rarely happens, but it does occur and patients should not be alarmed if it happens to them. Bruises usually disappear on their own within a few days up to a month, depending on how fast a person heals from bruising.

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6. What do I have to do to prepare for my acupuncture treatment?

It is important to eat a substantial meal within three hours of the acupuncture treatment. Never go into an acupuncture treatment hungry. It is very helpful to not have any caffeine before your acupuncture treatment.

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7. How long does the acupuncture session last?

At Elements in Harmony, we ask for 1.5-2.5 hours for your first visit. Anna guarantees 45-60 minutes minimum for follow-up visits; however, please stay longer than hour if you are able to do so. For most cases, patients will benefit more if their treatment is longer than an hour.

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8. Does Elements in Harmony bill insurance companies?

Anna does not currently accept insurance. You can find her rates on this page:
https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/43s7rm2x/

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9. What forms of payments do you accept?

• Exact change
• Apple Pay
• Bitcoin
• Credit card
• Venmo
• Paypal
• Zelle

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10. What qualifications are required to practice acupuncture in the state of California?

A practitioner must be a licensed acupuncturist to practice in the state of California. In the state of California, a national certificate is not required. Anna has been practicing since 1999 with a state license and has immediate plans to take the national exam. Only certain states require just the national certification. In California, a national certificate is not enough to practice acupuncture. The state exam must be passed.

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11. What kind of schooling is required of a licensed acupuncturist?

The schooling of a practitioner is usually a six-year program condensed into a four-year program. When Anna Dolopo was in school, only a master’s program was offered. Anna will be working on her doctorate degree in the near future.

If you are interested in studying Chinese medicine, it is critical for you to thoroughly investigate the credentials of your school. Pacific College of Oriental Medicine has three campuses: San Diego, Chicago and New York. For further information about Anna’s training, please visit: www.pacificcollege.edu.

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12. What is one of the best websites to research about Chinese medicine?

www.acupuncture.com

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13. Why did you decide to go into Chinese medicine for a living?

Anna’s life purpose is to heal as many people as possible with the POWERS of Chinese medicine.