Most American acupuncturists treat partially or fully unclothed patients on tables in isolated cubicles. This is not traditional in Asia, where acupuncture usually occurs in a community setting. In fact, the most famous acupuncturists overseas often needle patients in the waiting room, because their clinic overflows with 80 – 100 patients per day! Treatments are very simple and repeated frequently. At The Turning Point, patients remain fully clothed, lying in comfortable recliners in a quiet, soothing common room. With this more traditional style, we spend less time talking; the tongue and pulse diagnoses guide your treatment. This allows more patients to be seen in an hour, so that prices stay down for you.
Another difference at The Turning Point: you decide when you feel ‘done’ before having the needles removed. In some styles of acupuncture, the needles are removed after only a few minutes or after a half hour at the most. The style of acupuncture we practice at The Turning Point allows patients to keep their needles in as long as they want. The ‘right’ amount of time will vary from patient to patient, and may vary for you from visit to visit. Some individuals feel renewed after twenty-minutes, while others may fall deeply asleep for several hours and awaken feeling refreshed. This helps empower you in your healing process by letting you listen to your body and have input in your treatment.
Entry in 2008 Frederick Arts Council
Wreath Competition: 1 Acupuncture needle was stuck in this wreath for every patient treated during The Turning Point's inaugural year.
The soothing atmosphere in the community room exists because patients create it by relaxing together. This kind of collective stillness is a rare and precious thing in our rushed and busy society. To help maintain this peaceful oasis, please speak in whispers and do not socialize with others while in the room. If you would like to speak to the acupuncturist one-on-one at any length, please schedule a private session or request a telephone consultation.
What Can I Do?
Treating patients in a community setting has many benefits beyond just affordability and convenience. Friends and family members can more easily come in for treatment together. Many patients find it comforting. A collective energetic field becomes established which actually makes individual treatments more powerful. As with any kind of intentional group endeavor, such as meditation or prayer, when you do something with other people it raises the energy for everyone. The same event occurs with acupuncture: receiving treatment in a room with others raises the Qi dynamic, and healing is enhanced.
The community setting requires some flexibility from you. For instance, many patients have a favorite recliner. When we are busy, someone may be sitting in yours. Similarly, we have a few patients who snore. Other patients who dislike snoring bring earplugs to their treatments. We are grateful for this! Some of our patients even bring favorite pillows or blankets from home with them, because they prefer theirs to ours. That’s fine with us. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing, allowing access your elbows and knees. Please refrain from wearing colognes or strong scents, as many patients have chemical sensitivities.
Basically, we need you to participate in making yourself comfortable in the community room before we arrive to treat you.
If you need to leave by a specific time, let the acupuncturist know so that you can relax during your treatment without worrying about the clock. In general, if you feel done, open your eyes and give the acupuncturist a meaningful look -- if your eyes are closed, you look asleep and won't be woken up.
Part of our success is that our patients learn the "routine" and take on a lot of responsibility for the appointments. Re-scheduling and making payment happens at the front desk BEFORE each treatment, so you can relax and enjoy treatment. Please take all personal belongings with you into the common treatment room, and turn off your cell phone.
The Turning Point would like to gratefully acknowledge Lisa Rohleder, Skip Van Meter, and all of their co-horts for sharing the wisdom and experience they have gained through the creation of their clinic, Working Class Acupuncture. Their generosity of spirit has made this world a brighter place. "Acupuncture Can Change The World: Join The Revolution!"
Affordable Acupuncture UK is the first international community acupuncture association. If you find yourself traveling abroad, please stop in at one of their clinics and show your support!
Community Acupuncture Network is a nonprofit organization of practitioners, patients, and supporters whose goal is to make acupuncture more affordable and accessible by promoting the practice of offering acupuncture in community settings for a sliding scale ranging within $15-40 a treatment.
This office appreciates the diversity of human beings and does not discriminate based on race, age, religion, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, height, weight, national origin, language, education, or HIV status.
