FAQ

Q: What conditions can acupuncture treat?

A: The World Health Organization (WHO) listed symptoms, diseases and conditions that have been shown through controlled trials to effectively treated by acupuncture: 

• low back pain
• neck pain
• sciatica
• tennis elbow
• knee pain
• periarthritis of the shoulder
• sprains
• facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
• headache
• dental pain
• tempromandibular (TMJ) dysfunction
• rheumatoid arthritis
• induction of labor
• correction of malposition of fetus (breech presentation)
• morning sickness
• nausea and vomiting
• postoperative pain
• stroke
• essential hypertension
• primary hypotensionrenal
• colic
• leucopenia
• adverse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy
• allergic rhinitis, including hay fever
• biliary colic
• depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
• acute bacillary dysentery
• primary dysmenorrhea
• acute epigastralgia
• peptic ulcer
• acute and chronic gastritis

Q: Do you need a license to practice acupuncture?

A: Yes. In order to get a license to practice acupuncture and be a practitioner of Chinese Medicine, they must take the state and/or the national board exams. 

Acupuncturists in California must obtain certification from the California Acupuncture Board (CAB) to legally perform acupuncture in the Sate of California.  A California licensed acupuncturist (LAc) is someone who has passed the California Acupuncture Board Exam.  They have completed at least a four-year Master’s level program.  A Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine, or MTOM, includes more than 3,000 hours with instruction in Western medical anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; Chinese medical theory which includes acupuncture, herbology, and therapeutic massage; as well as hands-on clinical experience.

Click here to check California acupuncture license. 

A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine is a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or NCCAOM®. Certification means that the practitioner has met the national standards for safe and competent practice of acupuncture and Chinese herbology as defined by the acupuncture and the Oriental Medicine (AOM) profession.  

Our practitioner, Melissa Roxas, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., is a Licensed Acupuncturist and a board certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine.

Q: What conditions does your clinic specialize in?

A: Melissa Roxas specializes in treating pediatrics, women’s health issues, dermatology, and pain management. 

Q: What is acupuncture treatment like?

A: Fine hair-thin needles are placed on specific points on the body along energetic pathways, called meridians.  

Most people feel little or no pain when needles are inserted.  Sensations you may feel when getting acupuncture include an electric or warm sensation, heaviness, achiness, or tingling.  These are all normal responses and means that the healing response is being triggered in the body. 

Q: How frequently should I get acupuncture?

A: In order for acupuncture to be most effective, patients need to get treatments often and regularly. The length and frequency of treatment varies by each individual depending on their condition. We will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to meet your specific condition.

Q: How do I prepare for my first session?

A: For your treatment, it is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing that can be rolled over the knees and elbows.

Make sure that you have eaten at least an hour or two before your treatment. Please try to avoid eating or drinking anything that can stain your tongue like coffee, tea, juice, or candy. We will be looking at your tongue as part of our diagnosis and we want it to look like it normally does.

Please be aware that if it’s your first-time getting acupuncture, you may feel tired and want to rest after your treatment. Most people find they sleep better after treatment. 

FAQ for Pediatrics

Q: What conditions can be treated by pediatric acupuncture?

A: Conditions that pediatric acupuncture works well for include:

• Dermatological conditions: Eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, hives, rashes
• Allergies, asthma
• Colds, congestion, cough
• Ear infections, ear pain
• Digestions issues, diarrhea, constipation
• Anxiety, ADHD/ADD, autism
• Pain management, injuries

Q: Can babies and children get acupuncture? 

A: Yes! Acupuncture for kids is safe, natural, and effective. We have treated babies as young as a few months old and children of all ages. Melissa has specialized training in treating pediatrics and believes in a child-centered approach to treatment. 

Q: What is your child-centered approach to treatment?

A: A child-centered approach means putting the focus on the child and asking them to be an active participant in making decisions about their treatment. We work in partnership with them and their families to provide the best treatment and experience possible.  

It is very important for us to gain the trust of your child.  Part of our philosophy of a child centered approach to treatment includes getting feedback from the child whether or not they are ready to try taps during the session. We never force a child to do a treatment that they are not comfortable with.  If they are not ready for acupuncture yet, there are other non-needle techniques that we can use (see below). Once we have gained your child’s trust, we find that most of them will eventually try acupuncture. 

Q: What type of treatments do you give babies and children? 

A: We use both needle and non-needle techniques to treat children. Some non-needle techniques we use in the clinic include acupressure, pediatric massage, cupping, micro-current and shonishin (a gentle Japanese technique to stimulate acupuncture points).  

Nutrition and lifestyle recommendations are an important part of treatment to promote healing and wellness.

Chinese herbal medicine can be the main treatment especially for dermatological conditions like eczema, hives and skin rashes, as well as acute respiratory infections such as colds, coughs, and ear infections. 

Q: How do I prepare your child for acupuncture and how do I talk to them about it?

A: In our clinic, we prefer to use the word “taps” instead of “needles,” when talking about acupuncture treatments to kids.  We are “tapping” the points so that we can help them. Avoid using the word needles, or poke, or prick when talking to your child about acupuncture. 
Your child can bring their favorite item (like a toy, blanket or book) to make them feel more comfortable during the treatment. 

Q: Will pediatric acupuncture hurt?

A: The taps we use to treat children are not at all like hypodermic needles they use to draw blood or give shots.  

Taps are fine hair-thin pediatric needles and when used, give a virtually painless experience. 

Q: What will happen during my child’s first pediatric treatment session?

A: At your child’s first appointment, the majority of the time will be spent discussing their health concerns and your goals for treatment.  Have your child bring an item they can play or engage with (that is not electronics) while we do the initial health intake.  If there is something you would like to discuss that you don’t want your child to hear, please indicate this information on your intake form that we have you fill out before your first visit.

Depending on the child’s comfort level, we may or may not do a treatment during the first session. Establishing trust with your child is the most important for this first visit. 

Q: What are acupuncture pediatric treatments like?  How long do you retain the needles for?

A: During the treatment we will work with your child based on our child-centered approach (see above). Children are free to sit on their parent’s lap, sit or lay down on the treatment table, on our floor mat, wherever they are comfortable in the office, continuing to play or read while we work with them to do the treatment.  We don’t need to retain the taps on babies and very young children for very long to give an effective treatment.  We are able to adjust to whatever position is comfortable for them.

For older children who are able to sit or lay comfortably on the treatment table, we can retain the taps from 5-15 minutes depending on their interest and needs.