> Welcome! Here
is an
introduction to my acupuncture approach, and answers to frequently
asked questions.
With acupuncture and Chinese
Medicine, and sometimes including dietary
supplements and recommendations, I effectively and gently treat pain,
stress, allergies, asthma, eczema, IBS, immune disorders, women's
health issues, and more. For allergy and substance sensitivity, I
have a
specialty in NAET,
Nambudripad's Allergy
Elimination Technique. NAET is mainly an acupressure technique,
and need not use needles (although I prefer to use them, as they can
make the treatment stronger. I do not use needles for NAET on
children though unless they desire it. NAET works just as well
without
needles.) So even for the needle-phobic, I have help for you!
In my practice I sometimes
incorporate EFT,
(Emotional Freedom Techniques) a painless and needle-less acupressure
treatment that is especially helpful for emotional traumas, allergies,
and dealing with fears and other emotional issues. It is
also wonderful for children or anyone who
may be afraid of needles.
I
like to
spend some quality time with you during your first session, getting to
know
you and what your goals are, in order to set up a program that will
work best for you and your condition. I can assist you from
healing a painful condition, to helping you cope with a chronic
condition if that is what is
needed, to assisting you through life-changing events, to making
you as healthy as you can be. I can help with weight
management and quitting smoking, too!
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture and Chinese
medicine have been proven to benefit health and well-being, by
helping the body's own Qi (or energy flow) to harmonize in
balance. It is said that all pain and disharmony in the body is a
rsult of a blocakge in the body's energy system. When that
blockage is removed (through acupuncture and/or acupressure) then the
pain is relieved, and the disharmony is balanced.
Chinese acupuncture and herbal
medicine have been used for thousands of
years to help natural healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Modern-day
findings have proven its effectiveness in relieving pain and helping
treat many
diseases.
I heard acupuncture
can help me get off my pain medications--is that true?
Usually, with acupuncture, pain can be managed in a way that lessens
the need for pain medications. Acupuncture can also help relieve
side-effects from necessary medications that some patients must
take. With regard to medications prescribed by your physician, I
cannot advise you on changing them, but I can help you work with your
prescribing doctor on this matter. Usually doctors don't like to
have to prescribe medication for their patients for life, so they are
usually willing to help you reduce or change them if you find that the
acupuncture is really working for you.
How many sessions
will I need, and how often?
In acute pain conditions, often only three to six acupuncture sessions
can get rid of your pain, within 1 to 3 weeks. With chronic pain
conditions however, more sessions and maintenance may be
necessary. Usually for maintenance, one comes in every 2 weeks to
once a month. But this is almost always perferrable to continuous
use of NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen and naproxen), steroidal
anti-inflammatories (such as Prednisone) or narcotic pain medications
(such as Vicodin) with the side-effects and possible dependancy issues
they can cause.
For allergies and other conditions, I often advise six or more
sessions. They do not have to be close together, they can
be once a week, sometimes twice, or they can be every other week, once
a month, or longer if need be, but results are obtained faster if the
patient comes in sooner rather than later.
How much does it cost?
Initial
one and a half hour sessions are $95 for the first treatment, and
follow-ups which last up to one hour are $65 thereafter. I also
offer
follow-up visit packages for 5 or 10 sessions in advance at a discount,
and have
discounts for seniors 65 and over, and for small children. Please
inquire if you need financial arrangements. For
payment, checks, cash, and credit cards are accepted.
Does insurance cover acupuncture?
You will need to check with your
own insurance company to see if yours covers acupuncture. At
this time, the only insurance that I bill is Landmark (most people who
have this have it through WHA) but all other insurances that cover
acupuncture, I can give you a superbill statement that you may turn in
for reimbursement after you pay for your session at the time of
treatment. You may also request a superbill if you need one for
tax purposes.
Directions and office hours:
Gold
River Acupuncture is located at 10390 Coloma Rd, Suite 3, Rancho
Cordova, CA 95670. This is at the corner of Coloma and
Chase Dr.,
much closer to Folsom Blvd. than to Sunrise. There is ample free
parking and it's handicapped accessable. You should enter through
the main
first floor entrance and take the elevator to the second floor, as the
stairway entrances tend to be locked.
Office hours are by
appointment, Monday through Friday, as early as 10:30am and as
late as 5:30 or 6:00pm depending on the day.
How do I get a consult or an appointment?
Please
call 916-362-2832 for your appointment. If you have any questions
or
want to discuss the treatment, I can offer you a 15 minute free consult
by phone, or you can email me at LoriGilbertlLAc@sbcglobal.net.
Please sign up for our free e-newsletter, on the left side of this
page, to receive our latest updates, news, and the latest health
information!
A note to new patients:
My goal is
to help empower you to take charge of
your own health when you're not in my office, by giving you tools to
use at home for yourself in
between treatments and after your course of treatments is
finished. In this way you may maximize your pain
relief and health benefits. If you are under the care of another
medical practitioner, I can help you work with them for your best
benefit. Feel free to email me or call for questions about your
own situation..
Thanks for visiting Gold River
Acupuncture's web site--I look forward to meeting you!
Lori
Gilbert, L.Ac.
For a little background on
acupuncture &
Chinese medicine itself:
Acupuncture
commonly treats
conditions including (but
not limited to):
- allergies, asthma, & other
atopic and skin conditions
-
arthritis &
joint problems
- childhood illnesses
- pain and stiffness--back, neck,
knees, carpal tunnel, sciatica, etc.
- assisting addiction
recovery -- from smoking, alcohol, and drugs
(even prescription
drugs)
- helps speed healing
of broken bones and other injuries
- weight loss
- stress/tension, anxiety &
depression
Lori's Bio:
Lori
is licensed in acupuncture by the state of California, license number
AC9203. She has
been in
the health field since 1996, and was licensed in acupuncture after a
four-year Master's Degree program in Traditional Chinese Medicine from
Five Branches University, in Santa Cruz, CA, in 2003. She
also has
a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and
worked as an analytical chemist for the California Environmental
Protection Agency for seven years prior to her acupuncture schooling.