Frequently Asked Questions about Boulder Community Acupuncture

What is Community Acupuncture?
Community style acupuncture takes acupuncture back to it's Asian roots where many are treated in a room together and at the same time. Some believe that treating multiple clients in the same setting increases the healing energy. With three rooms with three beds and 3 recliners, we are able to offer a low-cost sliding scale option (versus if we only treated one person at a time). And you still receive the same individual attention as a smaller practice.

Watch this short YouTube video to find out more...

Does BCA use disposable needles?
Yes, we use disposable needles. They come to us sterilized in individually sealed packs; we use them once, then we dispose of them in a Sharps container.

Do I have to believe in acupuncture for it to work?
Not at all. We have treated many individuals who think it is plain "hog-wash", and surprisingly, they get just as good of results as those who are seasoned, firm believers. You just need to have enough of an open mind to want to find out if acupuncture will work for you. We suggest you give it a try!

Do you bill insurance companies?
BCA does not directly bill insurance companies, but if you have insurance that covers acupuncture, we can provide you with a receipt to submit.

Will it hurt?
Some individuals claim to feel nothing. Others may feel a slight prick with insertion, and then a dull ache. Acupuncture needles are nothing like injection needles you may get at the doctors. Our needles are extremely fine, and are virtually painless.

Do you treat pregnant individuals?
Yes. Acupuncture is fabulous with reproductive health, pregnancy, breech, labor support, IVF treatments, and postpartum. We get a lot of referrals from midwives, doulas, and obstetricians because acupuncture is effective for many pregnancy-related conditions. Also, there's a rumor that those who get acupuncture, especially during the last month of pregnancy, will tend to have an easier and shorter labor.

Do you treat children?
We no longer treat children under the age of ten. If a child is ten or older, and is open to trying needles, then we are happy to accommodate. To ensure a pleasant experience, we would encourage the parent to book a treatment and have your child accompany you in order for them to see the needling process. They may quietly sit with you in the room and perhaps try a calming needle of their own to see what it's all about.

How soon will I feel better?
We see many clients go from one practitioner to another, try every new diet or supplement they hear about in search of a fast cure to their problems. We understand this is often motivated by desperation and frustration associated with pain or chronic illness. However, it is important that you give whatever modality you choose a chance to work. Don’t just try it once or twice and then quit. If you’ve spent months or years suffering from a certain problem, it’s unreasonable to think it will go away quickly. Please, give the medicine time to work. This is one of the main reasons for the community acupuncture model. We make receiving treatment on a consistent and frequent basis possible because it is now affordable. We often recommend 4-6 treatments to see if acupuncture is going to be helpful for you and the condition you are coming in with.

What if I am terrified of needles?
If you really want to try acupuncture, our practitioners will walk you through the entire process, show you the needles, demonstrate how and where they will be inserted, and then you decide if it's something you are ready to try. Sometimes, the first treatment will be only having one needle inserted into the body. This will often be a calming point to help bring down some of the anxiety. If that goes well, we discuss whether or not you want more needles. Most people who have a fear of needles will soon see that acupuncture is quite different than a trip to the doctors office. In the end, there is only one way to find out if it is a possible option for you.