A RETURN TO TRADITION
What is Community Acupuncture?
Harmony Community Acupuncture is one of many community-style clinics opening across the country. We are taking acupuncture back to its Asian roots and providing care in settings similar to how acupuncture is done traditionally. The aim of this type of practice is to make acupuncture and natural health care available to the majority of the population rather than the minority who can afford the out of pocket expense of a ”spa” type treatment setting. We believe that acupuncture doesn’t have to be expensive to work. It doesn’t have to be done in a room by oneself to work. In fact, acupuncture works best when people are able to commit to a course of several treatments. Because of the lower fees and sliding scale that community acupuncturists are able to charge their clients are more able to make this commitment to their healing.
At the Harmony clinic the treatment space consists of small groups of recliners in one room. People are given a simplified treatment (meaning fewer needles) on the head, arms and legs while relaxing, fully clothed, in a reclining chair. In this way, several folks can be treated at the same time, making it possible to charge a sliding scale fee
"Why would I want to have acupuncture with other people around me?" you may ask.
Humans are communal beings. We pray, sing, dance, play team sports, etc. in a group. We do this because it enhances our experience. People enjoy community acupuncture clinics for just this reason: they prefer acupuncture in a group. This means that friends or family members can be treated together; creating group energy that enhances each individual treatment.
The
community style of acupuncture allows patients to keep their needles in as long as they want. Most people learn after a few treatments when they feel “done”; this can take from twenty minutes to a couple of hours! Once the needles are in place, patients can sit, relax and disconnect for a while. Soft, serene music or sounds of nature are played to quiet and still busy minds. When they wake up, the needles are removed and they can return to their day’s activities feeling more harmonious, calm and tranquil.
For more information about the community acupuncture movement please visit the Community Acupuncture Network
(CAN) website.
How does the sliding scale work?When acupuncture was brought to the United States, the Chinese tradition of a community treatment room was changed to help gain acceptance in the western world. Patients were treated in the western manner, which is one patient alone in a treatment room, rather than the traditional group setting. Acupuncture works best when the initial treatments are given close together. At the current cost of $50 or more per treatment, this wonderful medicine is out of the reach of most people. This means patients often stop coming in as often as recommended for healing.
I use a sliding scale fee, from $15 to $40, so that patients are able to afford to commit to their course of treatment, get well, and stay well. But I leave it up to my patients to decide what they can afford, and realize that this also may change from time to time.
(See Fees)Invisible Receptionist (IR): You can then go into the community treatment room to select a chair and blanket and get comfortable. Remove your shoes and socks. Take off any jewelry that may get in the way of treatment and put it on the table next to the chair. Roll up your sleeves and pant legs. Relax into the quiet and I will be with you shortly.
It’s possible someone may begin to snore during the session. If this would bother you, earplugs may be a good solution. Also, the lights will be on in the room. If this is a problem for you, an eye covering might help.
Fees:
Paperwork fee: $10.
(first visit only)Acupuncture Treatments : Sliding scale fee $15.-$40.
You chooseLiving Smoke Free Package consists of five appointments: two the first week, two the second week and one the third week. Cost $50
Military Personnel and Veterans Receive Free Ear Treatments.
Acupuncture has been proven to help
reduce the symptoms of PTSD in recent studies.