Community vs Private Acupuncture
At Redwood Acupuncture and Herbs, we now offer both private sessions, as well as community sessions. I have gotten a lot of questions about what community acupuncture is and how it works, so I want to take some time to explain the difference between the two.
Private acupuncture is just as it sounds and what most people are used to. These appointments are typically 45-60 minutes long for returning patients and 60-90 minutes long for new patients. They take place in a private treatment room. We will have plenty of one-on-one time to discuss your health concerns, diagnosis, and treatment plan. After discussing, we will move on to the acupuncture treatment where you will be lying on the table face up, face down, or in a side-lying position. The acupuncture treatment may include points on your arms, legs, abdomen, back, and head. Because some points are located in areas covered by clothing, I may ask that you undress to your comfort level for easier access to these points. I will always provide you with a sheet so that you are appropriately draped.
In addition to acupuncture, private treatments may include additional modalities such as electro-acupuncture, cupping, guasha, and moxibustion. We may also discuss dietary and lifestyle recommendations and possible Chinese herbal supplements that would improve your treatment results.
In private sessions, I have much more time to devote my energy to a single patient and employ a wider range of tools to treat their health concerns. For this reason, private acupuncture is more expensive.
Community acupuncture is the practice of treating multiple people in the same room. These appointments are typically 40-60 minutes long and take place in a larger room with recliner chairs. We will do a very brief check-in and then you will get cozy in one of the recliners for your acupuncture treatment. Since there are multiple people in the room, you will remain fully clothed and we will use points that are easily accessible, such as those on the arms, legs, neck, and head.
With a community acupuncture treatment, you will only get acupuncture and potentially a Chinese herbal recommendation if your condition is straightforward. There isn’t the same one-on-one time as with a private session since I am treating additional people during the same time frame. For these reasons, community acupuncture is much cheaper and offered on a sliding scale.
Community acupuncture is neat in that it mirrors how many treatments are traditionally provided in China. Acupuncture is also an energetic medicine and when there is a group of people being treated in the same room, the collective healing energy is greater. Schedule dates with your friends and family to get treatments at the same time!
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to community acupuncture is whether or not all conditions can still be treated while seated in a recliner, such as back pain. The answer is most definitely yes! There are many different styles of acupuncture that allow us to treat the whole body without ever accessing the area of pain or disease. We could treat the whole body from just the ear alone if we wanted or needed to!
Another wonderful option is to combine private and community acupuncture. If you like private sessions but want to extend your budget, consider alternating appointments. This allows you to get treated more frequently while still feeling comfortable with your healthcare budget.
If you have any additional questions, please schedule a free consultation to discuss which option is best for you.