FAQ

Acupuncture is one modality within a full encompassing medical system called Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Other modalities within Chinese Medicine include: Chinese Herbal Therapy, Cupping, Gua Sha, E-Stim, Tui Na.  For a list of our services click here. Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient medicine, spanning 3,000-5,000 years that has evolved over the centuries and incorporates single-use filiform, ACUPUNCTURE needles that are inserted into the skin and deeper tissue in very specific locations called Acupuncture Points.  These points lie on pathways or Acupuncture Channels or Meridians, that run the length of the body.  The placement of the needles is to balance the subtle energies of the body, promote healing, stop pain and support overall health and well-being.

Being that Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system, any and all disorders can theoretically be treated with varied levels of effectiveness.  Here is a incomplete list of common conditions that Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can effectively treat:

Abdominal Pain, Allergies, Anxiety, Arthritis, Back Pain, Bell’s Palsy, Cold Hands/Feet, Constipation, Cough, Cramps, Depression, Diarrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Earache, Facial Pain, Frozen Shoulder, Gastritis, Headache, Hypertension, Hypotension, Irregular Menses, Insomnia, Joint Pain, Knee Pain, Low Back Pain, Migraines, Muscle Pain, Nausea and Vomiting, Neck Pain, Osteo-Arthritis, POS, PMS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sciatica, Shoulder Pain, SIBO, Sprains, Stress, Stroke, Tennis/Golfers Elbow, TMJ…….many more disorders.

No, in most circumstances.  Occasionally, there may be slight discomfort or a temporary, pinching or dull achy sensation when initially inserting the needle or if a muscle grabs a needle that should dissipate after a minute or two.  Different areas of the body may be more sensitive while inserting the needles as compared to others.  Areas around the hands and feet tend to be more sensitive as compared to areas with more underlying tissue and muscle.  Once the needles are inserted there may be a sensation of pressure where the needles are inserted, but no pain.  If there is any lasting discomfort or pain associated with insertion of the acupuncture needles, always notify your doctor.  Most people report a feeling of relaxation, drowsiness or sense of well being during and after an acupuncture treatment.

After filling out initial paperwork which consists of your contact information and your health history.  The patient and the doctor will have an initial consultation and exam, asking specific questions about your disorder or condition and health history.  The exam may consist of taking blood pressure, feeling the Chinese pulses along the wrists, inspecting the tongue, nails, posture, range of motion or palpating areas of pain.  A specific diagnosis and treatment are determined and needles are inserted at certain areas of the body for your specific condition. Once needles are inserted the doctor may place a warming heat lamp above your feet or different area of your body.  The Doctor will then leave the room for 20-30 minutes to allow you to rest, returning later to remove the needles.  Cupping, Tui Na, Gua Sha, and herbal/supplement consultation/recommendation may follow needling dependent on your disorder. 

Each condition or disorder may require a varied number of treatments based on different factors.  Some disorders are easier to treat than others and each individual may respond differently to treatments, while the length of time the disorder has been an issue may also be a factor.  The ultimate goal is to resolve the chief disorder within a minimal amount of treatments as to then focus on any secondary disorders that may also be present.   
Depending on your disorder, your doctor may initially recommend 1-3 treatments per week and based on your progress, will cut back your treatments to 1 treatment every week or 2 weeks, then to a maintenance schedule, 1 treatment every 4-8 weeks or longer. 

Desert Ridge Acupuncture Rates
♦$120 Initial Visit (Initial Consult, Exam, Acupuncture Treatment, lasts from 1hr to 1-1/2hr)
♦$80 Follow Up Visits, (last 30-40-min)
♦$50 Cupping or Gua Sha only (no acupuncture, follow up visits only)
♦$10-$20; Chinese Herbal Formulas (No herbal consultation only, must be an active patient of DRA to be prescribed herbs)
♦Packages available to all cash pay patients
    $350; 5 Treatments (follow up visits only, must be paid in full) 
♦Free to message or call the clinic to ask questions about your specific condition HERE. 

Desert Ridge Acupuncture
5820 S. Pecos Rd. Ste#100
Las Vegas, Nevada 89120

(Located in the Parc Place Professional Complex)

Map Click Here

Starting April 1st 2019, we are accepting Culinary Union insurance. 

We accept Cash, Check, Credit/Debit Cards.

This has been some confusion by the public about Dry Needling and Acupuncture because they look similar and use the same filiform needles.  Dry Needling is performed by Physical Therapists, with as little a 24 hours or 3 days of education or training in some states and currently in Nevada there is NO educational, training, or licensure requirements set in place.  Acupuncture is practiced by Licensed Acupuncturists in most states (LAc.) and Doctors of Oriental Medicine (OMD.) in Nevada and have completed a Masters program in Traditional Chinese/Oriental Medicine with 2500 classroom hours and 500 hours of supervised clinical internships.  Physical Therapists use “Trigger Points” which are essentially tender/tights points or bands on specific muscles, that are needled in order to relieve pain and relax muscles.  Acupuncture already does this form of needling, called “Ashi” points.  Ashi Points are areas or points that are tender/tight or painful upon palpation or any area to needled that is not specifically located on Acupuncture Points, Meridians or Channels.  These points are needled by Acupuncturists in order to relax muscles, relieve pressure, stop pain and encourage healing to a specific area of the body.  Your acupuncturist will most likely already do this form of needling on you during your treatments.  See your local Physical Therapist for muscle/joint strengthening and rehabilitation and see your local Doctor of Oriental Medicine for your Acupuncture and needling needs.  For a great article on the subject, written by an amazing colleague, Dr. Rachel Kohl OMD. at Integrative Acupuncture of Southern Nevada, Click HERE.