8700 196th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98053, US
What to expect
1. Intake
2. Treatment
2. Treatment
At your first appointment, we will take the time to understand the context of your concerns.
We’ll discuss your whole health because many seemingly unrelated things provide insight.
All this will help us unravel the root causes of what’s leading to your current concerns and prevent new problems from occurring down the line.
2. Treatment
2. Treatment
2. Treatment
The treatment portion of your appointment will generally last about 45 minutes.
It can involve needles, bodywork, cupping, gua sha, electro-stim, and warming therapies such as moxa.
This healing process all happens in a spa like setting helping you to feel revitalized and ready to face the world.
3. Follow up
2. Treatment
3. Follow up
After your appointment, we’ll develop a treatment plan custom designed for you. This can include exercises, herbal supplements and lifestyle and nutritional information.
At your subsequent appointments, we’ll continually assess your progress on your path toward optimal health and wellness.
Does it hurt? What if I'm afraid of needles?
No. The majority of the time, there is no pain and it is actually very relaxing and pleasant.
Occasionally you may feel some discomfort, but we’ll always work together to make sure you are comfortable with what is happening and we’ll make adjustments as needed.
Acupuncture needles are VERY thin, about the diameter of a human hair and 1/40th the diameter of the hypodermic needle used for flu shots.
If you'd rather not have needles inserted, there are many other modalities we can use to help including acupressure, cupping, herbs, massage and much more.
Is it safe?
Very! It has been used effectively for literally thousands of years.
Acupuncturists today are highly trained, and the needles themselves are single-use and sterile. And unlike many Western treatments, acupuncture has no known side effects.
How should I prepare? What should I wear?
Loose, comfortable clothing is best, especially clothing that can be rolled up to the knees and elbows. If you forget, no worries – we can provide comfortable sheets and blankets for modesty coverage.
It is also best if you have eaten recently and are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In the days prior to your appointment, it is good to pay extra attention to how your body is feeling so we can get to the root of your concerns.
Does it work? What is it good for?
Yes! It’s been used effectively for millennia and today you can find it everywhere from small local clinics to hospitals across the world.
As to what it's good for, there is no short answer to this question – just like Western Medicine, acupuncture is good for so many things! It’s particularly good at whole body conditions and in pain reduction/elimination.
It’s also effective in a wide variety of conditions including sports injuries – both recent and long term, neck/back pain, headaches – including migraines, insomnia, stress relief, digestive issues, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, autoimmune disease, gynecological issues including PCOS, PMS and menopause, and much, much more.
Why don't you take insurance?
We wanted to be able to offer discounts and affordable alternatives such as community acupuncture to those in need of a little help. Insurance companies don't allow that.
We’ve tried to keep our prices affordable and are happy to provide you with a Superbill you can submit for reimbursement from your insurance if desired, but we do not bill insurance directly. We are also able to accept HSA Flex Spending Account cards for payment.
It is the goal of Mix Acupuncture & Wellness to make health care accessible to all so if the costs are prohibitive for you, we can have a discussion about how we can still help you.
What is "tech neck?"
"Tech neck" and "text neck" is a very common problem today, especially here in Redmond. It describes the neck pain derived from looking downward at our electronic devices repeatedly.
When your neck is in neutral position, your head weighs about 10-12 pounds. With a 45 degree head forward tilt, your head can weigh as much as 49 pounds! That puts a lot of extra strain on your neck muscles, discs and nerves. Add in muscle tension from the stress of our busy daily lives and you have a recipe for a whole host of problems!
Acupuncture is particularly effective at alleviating "tech neck" pain because we look at your whole health and lifestyle in formulating your treatment.
What kind of training does it take to become an acupuncturist?
I’m glad you asked because I had no idea when I was a patient. The short answer is 7 years of college, 3 national board exams and close to 1,000 hours of clinical work.
At the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, we had several prerequisites we needed to meet before enrolling in the program, including coursework in Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Biology, Nutrition in addition to completing our Bachelor’s Degree.
The program itself included about 1,000 hours of clinic work and extensive coursework in both Western and East Asian Medicine. It was a 4 year Master’s Program (done in 3 because clinics and courses don’t stop in the summer).
Our coursework included classes in orthopedic assessment, diet therapy, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, dermatology, biophysics, herb/drug interactions, microbiology, trigger point assessment, kinesiology and of course, many courses on body work, surface anatomy/palpation and acupuncture techniques were required.
Washington State requires passage of 3 board exams administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in addition to our Master’s Degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuina?
Trigger Points?
Trigger Points?
Therapeutic body work to address and treat specific patterns of disharmony using acupressure and other techniques. You'll feel an immediate improvement in the alleviation of pain and leave feeling more limber and relaxed.
Trigger Points?
Trigger Points?
Trigger Points?
Stimulating trigger points releases prolonged muscle tension using precise acupressure or needling techniques. Great for tight muscles, headaches, referred pain patterns and to increase range of motion.
Cupping?
Trigger Points?
Cupping?
Cupping releases adhesions and restrictions by using gentle suction to lift tissue. You may have seen athletes using it during the Olympics. This can be booked separately as a 30 minute appointment.
Gua sha?
Moxabustion?
Cupping?
Gua sha is similar to cupping, but involves the use of smooth tools to realign damaged tissue and release adhesions.
Moxabustion?
Moxabustion?
Moxabustion?
Moxabustion is the use of the herb mugwort to provide whole health benefits. When burned, its gentle heat and antimicrobial properties increases vitality, eases tension, promotes flow and stimulates your bodies natural immune system.
E-stim?
Moxabustion?
Moxabustion?
Electro-stimulation (e-stim) involves the use of electrodes to provide gentle stimulation to muscles to dispel blockages or encourage activation. In conjuction with acupuncture, this stimulation can be highly precise and targeted.