Yes! Possibly! Depends! The answer is always framed within the context of what east Asian medicine has to offer for your specific health concern.
Remember, acupuncture is a treatment modality within a time-tested system of medical practice, using specific diagnostic principles, language and treatment strategies.
To focus solely on the needles ignores the many other elements of care found within a licensed acupuncturist’s practice, such as counseling and relationship building, herbal therapy, nutritive food recommendations, and other lifestyle recommendations.
During the preliminary discovery call, we will answer your questions and determine if Thunderbolt Wellness is a good fit.
No. Thunderbolt Wellness is not an in-network provider with any insurance plan, including Medicare, and does not file claims or correspond with insurance companies on your behalf.
Check with your insurer, and if your plan covers acupuncture, we are happy to provide you with a superbill you can submit for reimbursement.
It is important that you first determine what type of ICD medical diagnosis codes are covered (for example: back pain), which your insurance company can assist with.
It can be helpful to obtain a referral from your MD to support your claims submission to your insurer.
If you have an HSA or FSA plan, we can easily accept your debit card for payment. If your company requires documentation for this, we are happy to provide you with a document that outlines services rendered.
Don’t forget!!! Acupuncture is a tax-deductible medical expense. Thunderbolt Wellness does not accept cases related to third-party claims, such as Workers Compensation or personal injury claims.
The answer to this question depends on how long the condition being treated has been going on; factoring in your age, lifestyle, and health history, the care you are receiving from your physician or other health care providers, and your continued adherence to our treatment plan.
For example, in cases of acute musculoskeletal pain, this can often be resolved quickly. In cases with longstanding inflammation, pain due to chronic musculoskeletal issues, or other more complex presentations such as autoimmune pathology, digestive, cardiovascular, mental or emotional issues, etc., this will be a longer process.
We always discuss this during your first visit, and as your treatment plan evolves.
Generally, an initial series of 4-6 visits is recommended, after which the interval between them is extended, or your care is completed. Often patients will schedule on a “health maintenance” basis, e.g. every few weeks, monthly, or even quarterly as the seasons change.
Preventive care is one of the many benefits of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, and honest communication with each other is the cornerstone of our work together.
The most common theory is that when needled, acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central and peripheral nervous system.
This in turn releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, which may enhance the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
There have been extensive studies on the mechanism of acupuncture that are readily available via a search on Google Scholar, including those done by The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
Helene M. Langevin, M.D., who was the NCCIH from 2018-2025, has a particular interest in the therapeutic effects of acupuncture, and co-authored the following: Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Cipolla MJ.
Mechanical signaling through connective tissue: a mechanism for the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. FASEB J. 2001 Oct;15(12):2275-82. doi: 10.1096/fj.01-0015hyp. PMID: 11641255.
Langevin HM, Churchill DL, Fox JR, Badger GJ, Garra BS, Krag MH. Biomechanical response to acupuncture needling in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2001 Dec;91(6):2471-8. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.6.2471. PMID: 11717207.
The short answer is no.
Dry needling is a style of acupuncture. The practice of acupuncture includes any insertion of an acupuncture needle for therapeutic benefit. Licensed acupuncturists (L.Acs) have consistently used “myofascial trigger points” or “motor points”, which are synonymous with acupuncture points.
The longer answer is that acupuncture is a therapeutic treatment modality historically found within east Asian medicine.
Janet Borges was trained in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, TCM food therapy, manual therapy practices such as Tui Na, and internal physical strengthening practices such as Qigong. Dry needling also has a historical context.
Research conducted by Dr. Janet Travall, who helped pioneer the study and treatment of myofascial pain, documented the anatomical efficacy of traditional acupuncture points, originally using hypodermic needles, which were replaced with filiform acupuncture needles, hence “dry.” Using the term “dry needling” as a pseudonym for acupuncture has become a way for chiropractors, physical therapists and other providers who do not have acupuncture within their scope of practice, to use acupuncture as a treatment modality.
Dry needling courses are sometimes as short as two days, and there is currently no national certification standard.
If the circumstances are warranted, such as in cases of longstanding musculoskeletal pain, Janet Borges practices an orthopedic style of acupuncture, for which she has received specific training.
This is often accompanied with electronic stimulation (“e-stim”) to the needles for greater efficacy.
Ultimately, no matter what the style of acupuncture is, or who is wielding the needles, the best healing approach is to find the healthcare practitioner that resonates with your needs!
Please see: https://thunderboltwellness.com/why-choose-us/
Janet Borges’ clinical experience supports the belief that each patient responds differently to treatment and that this is a constantly evolving process.
Therefore, at this time Thunderbolt Wellness does not offer packages, because this implies there may be a finite number of visits necessary, which is not something that can be known during the initial phase of treatment.
There are some exceptions to this, of course! Also see the “How Many Treatments Will I Need” question within the FAQs.
Yes, IF they are prescribed by a trained practioner to rule out any possible cautions or contraindications.
Together we will determine if your treatment plan would benefit from herbal therapy. In the US, Chinese herbal products are classified by the FDA as dietary supplements via the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 and are held accountable to standards of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
East Asian medicine practitioners are trained to find the appropriate formula for the patient based on pattern differentiation, while also accounting for the person’s constitution, prescription medications, and other considerations. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is really at the heart of east Asian medicine.
Please see: https://thunderboltwellness.com/about-herbal-medicine/
Please see: https://www.mayway.com/quality-assurance-and-control/ and https://www.mayway.com/manufacturing
Believe it or not, this question comes up a lot! When Janet first began her private practice in 2004, she wanted to be mindful of her clinical training while also honoring the many spiritual teachers with whom she has studied.
The logo for Thunderbolt Wellness is based on the Buddhist symbol “vajra”, a Sanskrit word translated as “diamond” and “thunderbolt”, signifying the concept of enlightenment within a lifetime.
While enlightenment is not guaranteed, combining time tested traditional Chinese medicine with one’s vast capacity for growth, improvement and change in this lifetime is the foundation upon which Thunderbolt Wellness is based!
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