Questions

Does Acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are hair thin, and when inserted, patients feel little or no pain. It is, however, not unusual to feel a dull ache, warm, or tingling sensation after insertion of the needle. Many patients experience a pleasant state of relaxation and serenity - many even take the opportunity to catch some restful sleep.

Are the needles clean?
Acupuncture needles are sterilized surgical stainless steel.  They are made from the same materials and held to the same quality standards as surgical equipment.  Frank Griffo uses only single-use disposable needles. Thus assuring there is no transmission of disease or infection.

How does Acupuncture work?
Traditionally it is understood that each organ system governs certain bodily functions as well as influences certain areas for each body.  Thus many symptoms can be tracked down to a fundemental organ imbalance. Many symptoms can also be caused by stagnation or blockage in the body (often resulting in pain).  Through the insertion of needles, the fundemental imbalance or blockage is relieved and the symptoms disappear. 

Do I have to believe in Acupuncture for it to work?
No. Acupuncture is currently being used successfully on cats, dogs, horses and other animals. Despite their lack of understanding of what is being done, acupuncture is very effective in treating them.  It is so effective, in fact, that acupuncture is fast becoming part of the standard curriculum of veterinary schools.

How many treatments do I need?
This is a simple question that, unfortunately does not have a simple answer.  Due to the individual nature of each patient and the unique problem they are experiencing the number of acupuncture treatments needed to resolve a complaint can vary greatly.  The severity of the problem, the duration of the problem and the patient’s response to acupuncture all influence the number of treatments.  Generally four to twenty treatments are adequate to take care of most complaints. A common cold may require only a single treatment while some chronic issues may require a whole series of treatments.

Is Chinese Medicine effective?
Although the practice of Chinese Medicine is relatively new to the West, it has been used in Asia for more than 4000 years to treat a vast number of conditions. As such, it is one of the oldest, safest, and most time-tested treatment methods available. Both the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health have evaluated scientific research and clinical trials of acupuncture and found it to be effective for a wide range of conditions.

Is Chinese Medicine safe?
Acupuncture and herbal medicine, when administered by a licensed acupuncturist, is an extremely safe way to treat a variety of ailments and diseases. In contrast to many drugs, acupuncture is non-toxic with little or no adverse reactions. Please see the research page for modern research on the safety of acupuncture.  While herbal medicine in general is very safe, extra attention is always paid to any possible drug/herb interaction.  All herbs are tested for heavy metals, pestacides and herbacides as well as fungi and molds.  Organic herbs are used whenever possible. 

What are the qualifications of an acupuncturist?
Licensed acupuncturists in the state of California have extensive training in both Chinese and Western Medicine. The minimum board requirements are completion of a four-year master's degree program including 3000 hours of classroom instruction and 1200 hours of clinical residency. In addition to completing the educational and clinical requirements, a prospective acupuncturist must also pass the California Acupuncture Board examination which includes biomedicine, herbology, pharmacology, diagnosis, and acupuncture. Under California law, acupuncturists are considered primary care providers.

How long does a treatment take?
Your initial visit will take 60 - 90 minutes, which includes a detailed intake process, examination when necessary, as well as a 30min acupuncture treatment. Follow-up visits usually take about 45 min to 1 hour, depending on the condition treated.

How much does a treatment cost?
All treatments are a flat rate of $75 plus any herbs that are prescribed. Herbs can run $10-$20 per week.  Frank does offer discounts for students and seniors. Many insurance companies now cover acupuncture. Upon request, Frank can supply patients with a superbill with the appropriate diagnosis and billing codes which can be submitted for direct patient reimbursement.

What can Chinese Medicine treat?
According to the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health, Chinese Medicine has been succesfully used to treat the following conditions:

    • Women's Health
    • Pain
    • Others
    • Infertility
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Depression
    • Dysmenorrhoea
    • Arthritis
    • Addiction
    • Menstrual Cramps
    • Headache
    • Allergies
    • Morning sickness
    • Neck and Back pain
    • Hypertension
    • Malposition of Fetus
    • Sciatica
    • Chemotherapy
    • Induction of Labor
    • Carpal Tunnel
    • Asthma
    • PCOS
    • TMJ
    • Stroke
    • PMS
    • Postoperative pain
    • Meniere's Disease

In addition to these well recognized and accepted areas of treatment, Frank Griffo has had success with treating all kinds of disorders including digestive disorders, skin diseases and fertility issues.  To inquire about your condition please call or email.

Chronic and Acute Pain - Injuries, headaches, neck and back pain, tendonitis, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia

Neurological Disorders - Post-strok recover, Bell's Palsy & Trigeminal Neuralgia, movement disorders

Upper Respiratory Disorders - Asthma, allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throat, laryngitis, colds and flu.

Digestive Disorders - Irritable bowel, colitis, constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, heartburn, food allergies, ulcers, Gallstones

Urinary and Reproductive Disorders - Cystitis, menstrual cramps, irregular or heavy periods, infertility, menopausal symptoms, UTI, PCOS, Kidney stones

Immune Function - Recurrent infections and colds, supportive treatment for cancer and AIDS patients.

Eye and Ear Disorders - Tinnitus, poor hearing, Meniere's disease, glaucoma, red eyes, dry eye syndrome, floaters, blurry vision

Mental/ Emotional Disorders - Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, ADD, irritability, stress