Acupuncture Wellness of Indy is an Indianapolis-based acupuncture clinic owned and operated by licensed acupuncturist K. Shane Haggard. Haggard is a former vice president of the Indiana Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and helped Fairbanks Hospital to develop and implement their acupuncture detox program. He specializes in treating undiagnosed illnesses and mental illness.
Chiropractic Rehabilitation & Acupuncture is located on the north side of Indianapolis and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Founder Dr. Robert Ferguson is a state-licensed acupuncturist and chiropractor who offers a range of pain relief services, including auricular therapy, Kinesio taping, low-level laser therapy, and sound assisted soft tissue mobilization (SASTM).
The Dr. David Bax Injury and Rehabilitation Center has been providing physical therapy and rehabilitation services in the Indianapolis area for the past 20 years. Services offered include acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy, along with more esoteric options like Erchonia cold laser therapy, balancing blood chemistry, and Electro Meridian Imaging (EMI). Dr. David Bax is a licensed chiropractor and acupuncturist, and a earned a Diplomate of Acupuncture from the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He has also completed course studies in Applied Kinesiology.
Dr. Harry Shao Acupuncture and Chiropractic Services has two Indianapolis locations, one on North College Ave and one on Bash Street. Dr. Shao is certified as a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) by Texas Chiropractic College and is board certified as a Diplomat of Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Dr. Shao's patients have included nationally famous football players and race car drivers.
Dr. Jin Acupuncture Clinic serves Indianapolis. It provides treatment for patients dealing with chronic pain, neurological disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Its founder, Xiaoming Jin, is a neuroscientist who studies pain, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and how acupuncture can address these issues and many other ailments. He was involved in developing a doctoral degree program in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at Five Branches University. He also taught acupuncture in educational institutes in the Bay Area, including the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Eastern Wind Acupuncture is an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine clinic with offices in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Broad Ripple. The founder is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who came to traditional medicine after it helped him recover from lingering pain after a car accident. The clinic offers a balanced menu of services, including acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, and lifestyle and diet counseling.
Essence of China Acupuncture and Herb Clinic is a traditional Chinese medicine center with offices in Indianapolis and Muncie. Founder Lei Shaw is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She offers traditional medicinal services including acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapies, cupping, and moxibustion.
Eyrich Natural Health and Healing is a holistic health center based in Carmel and serving the Indianapolis metro area. Founder Dr. Thomas G. Eyrich is a licensed acupuncturist and chiropractor who also offers a host of additional therapies, including naturopathy, electro-meridian imaging, microcurrent therapy, spinal decompression therapy, and Voll Electrodermal Testing.
Indy Acupuncture is an Indianapolis acupuncture clinic with two locations, one in downtown Indianapolis and one in Broad Ripple Village. CEO and sole practitioner Erica Siegel is a licensed acupuncturist and Feng Shui consultant who offers phone consultations and home visits to her patients. Other traditional Chinese therapies, including moxibustion, cupping, and acupressure, are also offered.
Inter-Health Acupuncture, LLC is based in Greenwood and has been serving the greater Indianapolis area since 2012. Licensed acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine L. Tony Brenner opened the practice with an eye to providing affordable acupuncture services in the community. All acupuncture treatments are priced on a sliding scale between $20 and $40 per visit based on the patient's own assessment of what they can afford.
Invoke Wellness Center is a combination fitness and bodywork center, allowing clients to do yoga, pilates, and other strength-building activities in the same place as they receive acupuncture and massage therapy. The center is located in Indianapolis and serves the surrounding area, offering the services of two licensed acupuncturists on site.
Mangas Chiropractic is an Indianapolis-based chiropractic and acupuncture clinic that has been in business for more than 30 years. Dr. Steve Mangas provides a range of specialty services in addition to acupuncture and chiropractic care, including BrainCore therapy, Allerg-Ease, PEMF therapy, Zyto scans, EB Pro and Bio Meridian therapy. Acupuncture is offered for a flat fee of $30.
Winslow Facial Plastic Surgery is based in Carmel and has been serving the Indianapolis metro area since 2008. In addition to traditional facial plastic surgery options, the clinic offers Constitutional Facial Acupuncture, which is a technique that uses acupuncture to smooth out wrinkles and rejuvenate aging skin. Specials are often available for new clients.
Yang Health Center is a holistic health clinic that has been serving the Indianapolis and Carmel area for more than 25 years. Dr. Wei-chen Yang comes from a Chinese medical family and offers a variety of services, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and cupping. She frequently returns to China to teach courses on Chinese natural medicine.
Research hasn’t yet determined exactly how acupuncture works, but there are two main theories. One is that it operates on a neurological level by stimulating muscles, nerves, and connective tissues, triggering natural pain relief effects. Others believe acupuncture balances a person’s energies — chi — creating physical, emotional, and mental harmony, which relieves pain and improves health.
Medicare Part B covers acupuncture solely to treat low back pain. The condition must have no known cause and have lasted for at least 12 weeks. Only a doctor or properly licensed and trained medical provider may perform the acupuncture. Medicare initially approves up to 12 sessions over 90 days. With demonstrated improvement, up to eight more visits may be allowed.
Studies by the National Institute of Health confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture for addiction, nausea, headaches, asthma, some stroke rehabilitation, and pain management for various conditions. The NIH studies support the use of acupuncture alone and combined with traditional treatment methods. Additional research by other scientific and medical organizations demonstrates that acupuncture is typically successful in the treatment of pain.
Acupuncture should not be painful. The unfamiliar sensation may be uncomfortable at first, but that typically goes away after the first session. People with high sensitivity levels or low pain tolerance may experience heightened sensations. However, any discomfort should be minor and brief. Some common feelings at the acupuncture points are warmth, tingling, heaviness, or mild achiness.
Acupuncture prices vary greatly, ranging from $50 to $300 per session. Initial sessions usually cost more than follow-up appointments. Initial sessions on the high end of the pricing scale usually include a consultation and medical exam along with the acupuncture session. Some acupuncturists offer membership price breaks or discounts for prepaid multiple sessions. Shop around before deciding on an acupuncturist.
Some health care insurance carriers cover acupuncture for specific medical conditions. But it depends on the location, insurance provider, insurance plan, and reason for the treatments. Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United Health Care, Health Net, Banner Health, and Humana are examples of some private insurers that may cover acupuncture with various restrictions. Contact your provider to learn more.
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing to your first acupuncture appointment. Shorts or pants you can pull above your knees are a good idea. Short-sleeve tops are also preferable. Slip-on shoes are helpful. If your treatment involves back or torso needle placement, your acupuncturist likely provides gowns. After your first visit, you have a better idea of suitable clothing.
Acupuncture is very safe with a certified, reputable, and capable acupuncturist. When the practitioner follows the law using sterile, disposable, single-use needles, adverse effects are rare. The World Health Organization reported no major side effects and only 671 minor adverse events out of 10,000 treatments. Plus, acupuncture has none of the serious side effects of traditional pain medications.
Dry needling is also called intramuscular stimulation. The procedure involves the insertion of needles to treat muscular pain. Unlike the ancient practice of acupuncture, dry needling is relatively new. It’s not a well-regulated field either, while acupuncture is. Physical therapists and other providers can perform dry needling with no special training, licensing, or certifications.
Acupuncture can help relieve pain caused by many medical conditions. Some examples are migraines, menstrual cramps, back pain, arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, postsurgical dental pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Many patients also experience improvement from acupuncture treatment for conditions, such as asthma, addiction, ADHD, and TMD. Plus, acupuncture may also help relieve nausea, stress, and anxiety.
Initial acupuncture appointments typically last longer than routine sessions. They may include an interview about your health issues and a medical exam. With the acupuncture session, the entire appointment may take one to two hours. Successive sessions typically last about 30 minutes to an hour. The needles will be in place for only about 10 to 30 minutes.
It’s best to discuss how many sessions you’ll need with your acupuncturist during your initial consultation. Most patients who seek acupuncture to help with a medical condition and related pain need several sessions. They may start treatment with one to three sessions per week for a few weeks. Once they see improvement, treatments may taper off to in-frequent maintenance sessions.
Metal filiform needles are the type commonly used for acupuncture today. These sterile, stainless-steel thread-like needles are available in varying diameters and lengths. The typical gauges range from 0.12 mm to 0.35 mm. Japanese acupuncture calls for thinner needles than Chinese methods. Acupuncture needles are designed for one use before disposal. Some acupuncturists use gold or silver needles.
Washington D.C. and 47 states require some type of licensing to perform acupuncture. South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Alabama don’t regulate acupuncturists. Elsewhere, credentialing requirements and standards vary. Most states with acupuncture legal oversight require National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exams or certification in compliance with the Acupuncture Practice Act. California has its own licensing exam.
