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811 Altos Oaks Dr. Suite 1, Los Altos, CA 94024
Tel: (408) 221-6458
FAQs
Please call our office for pricing, and contact us regarding your insurance plan coverage and terms. We want to help you get the most benefit from your insurance plan.
In general,
We accept most insurance (including auto-accidents and worker’s compensation)
We are in-network with Cigna
Our goal is to provide quality health care to all our patients in a timely manner. No-shows, late arrivals, and cancellations inconvenience not only our providers, but our other patients as well. Please be aware of our policy regarding missed appointments.
Appointment Cancellation
When you book your appointment, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to our other patients. In order to be respectful of your fellow patients, please call/text/email Dr. Shen as soon as you know you will not be able to make your appointment.
If cancellation is necessary, we require that you call at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments are in high demand, and your advanced notice will allow another patient access to that appointment time.
How to Cancel Your Appointment
If you need to cancel your appointment, please call or text us at (408) 221-6458 or email us at losaltosacu@yahoo.com between the hours of 9:30am-5:30pm. If necessary, you may leave a detailed voicemail message. We will return your call as soon as possible.
Late Cancellations/No-Shows
A cancellation is considered late when the appointment is cancelled less than 24 hours before the appointed time. A no-show is when a patient misses an appointment without cancelling. In either case, we will charge the patient a $80 missed appointment fee.
We accept Flex Spending Accounts (FSA)
We accept all forms of payment (cash, check, and credit cards)
Acupuncture views the human body as a biological energy field. This energy, Qi (Qi, may also called Chi or Chee), flows along 14 channels in the whole body. Each channel is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. There are 361 classic acupuncture points along the channels. If those channels are imbalanced or blocked, disease will rise. Very fine needles are inserted into various points of the body to restore and balance the normal flow of energy. Each point has a predictable effect on a certain part of the human body or associated disease, thus helping relieve pain and improving body function.
Acupuncture is one of the safest of all medical practices, while still maintaining a high degree of favorable results. In fact, it is a natural therapy without introducing any chemicals or drugs into your system, but can still balance your body hormones, change the circulation of your blood, release pain and stress and totally cure some diseases.
Acupuncture is currently used by 10 million American patients yearly and performed by thousands of physicians, master’s degree level acupuncturists and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and a variety of health problems. Instead of using invasive techniques and harsh drugs, acupuncture unlocks the body’s natural ability to heal.
Most people agree that acupuncture is practically painless. It bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection, since the main source of pain from injection is the larger diameter, hollow needle and the medication being forced into the tissue by pressure. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin and always sterilized (individually prepackaged) according to modern surgical standards.
In the hands of a trained acupuncturist, the needle is almost not felt as it enters the skin. However, a slight tingling or pressure may be felt momentarily when it reaches the correct spot under the skin. This indicates that the Qi (the energy flow) has been reached. During the treatment, patients may feel some heaviness or electric sensation either around the needle or traveling up or down the affected meridian, or energy pathway. In any case, if you experience any discomfort, it is usually mild. Most patients find the treatment very relaxing and many fall asleep during treatment. It is important that the patient be relaxed and comfortable during treatment so that desired results can be attained.
That depends on the nature of the problem, the location of the points selected and the patient’s size, age, and constitution. It also depends on the acupuncturist’s style or school. Usually, needles are inserted from 1/4 to 1 inch in depth. For certain areas in upper legs or hips, longer needles are needed.
Acupuncture has withstood the test of time for millions of people. It is a completely safe system with virtually no side effects. After an acupuncture treatment, most people will experience a sense of well being, relaxation and often be energized.
In rare cases, some people experience dizziness, nausea, cold sweat, shortness of breath or faintness during treatment. This often occurs if you are nervous. Inform your doctor immediately so that the doctor can adjust or withdraw the needles.
First, relax. There is no need to be frightened. Ask your doctor any questions you have so that you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment. Second, do not change your position or move suddenly. If you are uncomfortable, tell you doctor. If you find your treatment unbearable at any point, be sure to speak up so that your doctor can make the proper adjustment or stop the treatment.
There is a wide variety of illness which acupuncture may treat. Among its many benefits, the most dramatic effect of acupuncture is the elimination and management of various pain syndromes. Check our Service section for the conditions that we treat at this clinic using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
A high percentage of patients experience good to complete improvement. As in any other forms of healing, the patient’s attitude, diet, determination and lifestyle will affect the outcome of treatment. And the results are not guaranteed. As a matter of fact, most people in the West who seek acupuncture have conditions which have proven resistant to other types of treatment. Many patients try it as a last resource and find the solution to their problem.
The required number of treatments cannot be predetermined. They will vary in accordance with the nature and severity of the ailment. It is usually recommended that a course of 7-10 treatment sessions be given, preferably on a twice a week basis in the beginning and then spread out as the patient starts to improve. In chronic cases, more than one course of treatment may be needed.
Herbal medicine is a comprehensive health care system used for over 3,000 years in China and throughout the world today. The system is based on an energetic model rather than the biochemical model of Western medicine.
Chinese medicine recognized a vital energy behind all life forms and life processes. It views the body as a dynamic, interrelated whole possessing a vital energy or life force called Qi (pronounced “chee”). Health depends on the free-flow of this energy and the interplay of the body, mind and spirit. When disease occurs, specific herbs are chosen to rebalance the energy and allow the body to heal itself. Usually herbs are combined into formulas that address the specific health problem for an individual.
Instead of using invasive techniques and harsh drugs, Chinese medicine unlocks the body’s natural ability to heal.
In the hands of a well-trained herbal doctor, Chinese herbs are highly effective and safe. Careful attention to dosage and combination of herbs, as well as any known drug-herb interactions, are covered in comprehensive Chinese herbal medicine education programs.
Chinese herbs have a balancing or regulating effect on the body and are usually more gentle compared to even common, over-the-counter Western drugs. When they are prescribed according to a correct pattern diagnosis, they should have few, if any, side effects, only beneficial healing results.
Side effects from herbs are possible, but are usually minor. The potential problem is gastrointestinal upset, gas and bloating due to slight difficulty digesting the herb material. If this or any other problem occurs, discuss it with your Chinese medicine doctor, so the doctor may change your formula until there are no side effects.
Herb-drug interactions are rare. However, in order to allow your health care provider to treat you effectively and work in partnership, you should inform your Western medical physician that you are taking Chinese herbs just as you should inform your herbal doctor of any prescription medicines that you are taking.
Chinese herbal medicine is a comprehensive form of medicine that can effectively address a wide variety of conditions. It has a long clinical history of treating acute and chronic conditions. It excels in treating conditions that Western medicine has difficulty in treating as well as conditions that do not have a Western diagnosis.
Check the Treatment section for the conditions that we treat at this clinic.