FAQ & Policies

 

Acupuncture

Does it hurt? Acupuncture needles are hair-thin — nothing like the needles used for shots or blood draws. Most people feel little to nothing on insertion, and some describe a mild tingling, warmth, or a dull ache once a needle is in place, which is often a sign the point is being activated. Sessions are meant to be calming, not painful.

What should I expect from a session? Every session starts with a conversation — reviewing your health history, current concerns, and goals — before any treatment begins. Needles are typically left in for 20–40 minutes while you rest, often in a quiet, low-light setting. Many people feel deeply relaxed or even fall asleep during this time. Afterward, it's common to feel calm, clear, or a little "floaty" — plan to ease into the rest of your day rather than rush off.

What are the adjunct modalities, and what do they do?

  • Cupping — suction cups placed on the skin to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and release stagnation. Can leave temporary circular marks, which fade over several days.

  • Gua Sha — a gentle scraping technique that releases tight fascia, reduces inflammation, and boosts circulation.

  • Moxibustion — gentle heat therapy using the herb mugwort to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi and blood, often used for cold or stagnant conditions.

  • Tui Na — therapeutic Chinese massage that relieves pain and tension and supports overall alignment.

Are the needles sterile? Yes. I use sterile, single-use, disposable needles for every patient, following Clean Needle Technique (CNT) standards.

Are you licensed and certified? Yes — I'm licensed to practice acupuncture in New York State and board certified by the NCBAHM (National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, formerly NCCAOM) in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

What conditions or life stages do you treat? Alongside general wellness care, I have particular experience supporting:

  • Pregnancy and postpartum recovery

  • Fertility support and menstrual regulation

  • Pain relief, surgery recovery and pain management

  • Stress management, emotional/mental wellness

  • Patients ages 16 and up (a parent or guardian must be present and sign consent for anyone under 18)

Do you do community events? Yes — I periodically offer treatments like ear seed and ear acupuncture applications at community and wellness events. Keep an eye on my updates for upcoming appearances, or reach out if you'd like to have me at an event. For a listing of my group and corporate rates, click here

Payment

What payment methods do you accept? I accept Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, and credit/debit cards (via Square).

Full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your appointment. Your payment link will be provided at the time of booking. Your appointment will be confirmed when full payment as been received.

Do you accept insurance? I do not accept insurance directly. However, acupuncture is an eligible expense under most FSA and HSA plans:

  • You may pay directly with your FSA/HSA card at the time of service — the full session amount, regardless of service type, can typically be charged to the card.

  • Alternatively, you can pay out of pocket and request a superbill (an itemized receipt with the information your FSA/HSA administrator needs) for your records or reimbursement.

Please note: only the acupuncture portion of a session is generally FSA/HSA-eligible. Adjunct modalities (cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, tui na) and herbal/food therapy guidance are typically not eligible. Your superbill will itemize the eligible acupuncture amount separately from any non-eligible portion, so you can submit accurately to your administrator.

FSA/HSA eligibility by service:

  • Acupuncture Standard ($200): $200 eligible

  • Acupuncture Express ($100): $100 eligible

  • Acupuncture+ ($250): $200 eligible, $50 not eligible (adjunct modality)

  • Acupuncture Complete ($350): $200 eligible, $150 not eligible (adjunct + herbal guidance)

  • Herbal/Food Therapy Consultation ($100): not eligible

  • Virtual Herbal Consultation ($75): not eligible

If you'd like your FSA/HSA card to only be charged for the eligible portion at time of service, with the remainder paid separately by another method, just let me know when booking and I'm happy to split the charge. Travel fees (when applicable) are also not FSA/HSA-eligible.

Do you charge for travel? Rates cover travel within the MTA transit system. If your location falls outside the MTA system or requires a taxi, a travel fee applies and will be discussed and agreed upon at the time of booking. Additional fees apply if a massage table is requested.

All Payments Are Non-Refundable Deposits and full payments are non-refundable under any circumstance. Credits, where applicable per the policy above, may only be applied toward a future session — not refunded as cash or returned to your original payment method.

I'm a Fabrik member — how do I use my discount?
Send me a message on our shared Fabrik Slack to get started, and I'll take it from there. Your 10% discount applies to single-visit treatments anywhere in the NYC metro area (standard travel fees still apply). It doesn't stack with package pricing, since packages already come with a built-in discount.

For Fabrik events hosted by Love On Health, sign up through Luma using the same name and email associated with your Fabrik Slack account — that's how we verify membership.

Not a member yet? You can learn more about joining Fabrik here, or reach out to me directly with any questions.

Cancellation Policy

Home visits require dedicated travel time, preparation, and a reserved block in my schedule that cannot easily be filled on short notice. To keep this fair for all patients, the following policy applies to all bookings.

Early Cancellations & Rescheduling — 24 hours' notice or more The full amount you paid is credited toward your next visit, as long as the new appointment takes place within 30 days.

Late Cancellations — less than 24 hours' notice Your payment is forfeited in full. No credits will be forwarded and you will have to rebook a new visit. Cancellations (early or late) made by the practitioner are credited to your next booked visit within 30 days. Same-day cancellations are subject to this as well once the payment has been made.

No-Shows If I arrive at your home for a scheduled appointment and there is no response within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, this is considered a no-show. The full amount you paid is forfeited, with no credit issued. If I arrive late, you still receive your full appointment length or you are welcome to reschedule at no charge or penalty.

Arrival & Session Length Please have your space ready by your scheduled start time so you can receive the full benefit of your session. If you're running behind, I'm glad to wait a few minutes, but your session may need to run shorter than the full booked time out of respect for the time reserved and any appointments after yours.

Appointments

How do I book? All sessions are by appointment only — text or call to reserve your date and time. Text me at 646.828.9070 to coordinate a date and time. Once confirmed, I'll send any necessary intake forms, meeting links, and your payment link. Please respond to confirm your attendance when prompted; unconfirmed appointments may be released to allow other clients to schedule that time.

How long are appointments? Sessions run no less than 1 hour and no more than 2 hours, depending on the service and your needs.

How should I prepare for my home visit? Leave yourself ample time before and after your appointment so you don't have to rush. Avoid alcohol on the day of your session, before or after. Stay well hydrated, and drink plenty of water afterward. Try not to schedule your session immediately before a vigorous workout or a stressful meeting — the treatment needs time to integrate. Please eat something light beforehand; don't arrive stuffed or starving. Wear loose, comfortable clothing you can relax in, and have a quiet, private space ready for us to work in. Feel free to set the mood however you like — candles, music, essential oils, whatever helps you unwind. Treatments typically take place on your bed, couch, or a massage table. If you'd like me to bring a massage table, an additional table & transportation fee will be added to your session rate.

Where can I find my consent forms? You can download your Consent to Treat and Arbitration forms here: Consent & Arbitration Forms (PDF). You're welcome to print and sign them ahead of time and bring them to your appointment, or I can bring copies for you to sign in person before we begin treatment. These must be completed before any treatment starts.

How will I feel after my appointment? Everyone's experience is different. Most people feel calm and relaxed after treatment — some feel a little loopy or "floaty." This is another good reason to leave yourself time before your next obligation. Enjoy it!

How often should I get treatment? Acupuncture and herbal medicine work cumulatively. Consistent, regularly spaced treatment builds on itself and tends to produce deeper, longer-lasting results than occasional visits.

The right frequency depends on where you are in your health journey:

  • Actively working toward a goal (fertility support, resolving a specific condition, postpartum recovery, etc.): Most patients see the fastest progress with 2–3 visits per week, though weekly, biweekly, monthly, or seasonal rhythms can also produce results — just more gradually. This is why I offer treatment packages, designed to support this kind of focused, sustained care.

  • In a maintenance phase: If you're already feeling well and simply want to stay balanced, single as-needed visits are a great fit for periodic check-ins.

Not sure which approach makes sense for you? I’m happy to talk through your goals and recommend a treatment plan during your first visit.

I just had my acupuncture treatment or herbal consult, now what? Every treatment is tailored to what your body needs that day, so your session may include add-ons like cupping, gua sha, moxa, or tui na alongside acupuncture or your herbal consult. These are chosen to support and extend the benefits of your treatment, not as separate services. At the end of your visit, or later that day, you'll receive a follow-up with any self-care recommendations specific to your session (rest, hydration, movement, or other guidance based on what we addressed). If anything comes up before your next visit, don't hesitate to reach out.