Accupuncture!

[Dominque]

Hi Sarah Jane,

My acupuncturist charges $35 a session.

No it doesn't hurt, you barely feel the needles going in at all. They put them in very quickly - its just bang, bang, bang and they are all in within 10 seconds.
Occasionally one of the needles might give you a quick little minor sting but it's nothing bad I promise!

Cheers,

Lisa M

[Heaven]

Thanks Lisa. I'm not too good with needles! lol.
$35 is pretty good I thought it would be more expensive. I wonder if that's about average.

[Mrs P]

Hi Sarah Jane,
I thought I'd tell you that my acupuncturist charges... $80 a session! Though because I've been seeing him for quite a while I'm charged $70 (he had a price rise after I started). BTW I'm in Perth. I get about $23 back from health ins.
Each session is for an hour, during which time he will chat about my week, any symptoms etc I've had (we're trying to get AF to return), check my tongue and my pulses, then I get the needles and relax for around 30 mins.
I would say that it doesn't hurt, but the sensations can be a little strange to start with! And if you are having some of the stronger points, well it can be rather intense! But that makes me think that it's working even more!!

[Heaven]

Crikey $80, hmm, and I don't have private health insurance atm.
Thankyou for the information! I am going to have to look into it. About how many needles would they put in each time do you reckon?

[Mrs P]

Hi SJ,
The number of needles really depends on what you're being treated for. A lot of people think that it's a value for money thing eg you should expect a lot of needles and if not you're being ripped off! But my acu guy says that it's better to use as few needles as possible, so as not to complicate the treatment. I've had up to about 12 or 14 I think, but sometimes i'll only have 6 or 8.
It's also great because since I go weekly, if I'm feeling a sore throat or cold coming on, or if I'm not sleeping well or feeling especially stressed, he'll incorporate that into the treatment too.
It is pricey, but for me I'd rather try the natural option and fix my body that way than have hormone injections (at this stage anyway). DH and I joke about our 'million dollar baby'

[~kaos~]

My AP costs $50 for a session. It is an hour long and usually includes some reiki (while the needles are in) and a little shoulder neck massage

I had regular acupuncture for about 6 weeks prior to #2 being born. Labour went smooth (if anything I handled it too well and nearly didn't make it to the BC) and she was in a good position. I felt as though the AP had left my system (hormones?) balanced and ready to labour. Didn't use AP to induce as I gave birth at 39weeks.

[Heaven]

Thanks for all the info guys!! Good to hear of lots of positive experiences!
On top of that cost did you have to buy any herbs or anything?

[Mrs P]

I was taking TCM herbs, cost was $50 for 2 weeks worth. But I'm now taking naturopath herbs (along with the acupuncture) which cost me about $120 for 5 weeks I think. Oh and they taste worse than the TCM ones!!

[Kirsten Doughty]

Acu treatment is between $50-$80 plus herbs which can vary between 20-50.

It doesn't hurt at all, needles are as thin as your hair. Usually 10-15 are inserted into specific points for 20mins, very relaxing

[Heaven]

Well, I did decide to try acupuncture! Had my first session on Saturday. It was $65 and I also paid another $25 for herbs for about 2 weeks. Now it helps with getting my cycle back in order and conceiving!!

[Shanti]

It's wonderful reading all the stories about AP and how it's helped people to conceive or in their pregnancy and even just general health...

I had my first visit to an AP and herbalist on Saturday also & he treated me with 'electroacupuncture' has anyone had this done? He said it was more beneficial than the needles for fertility? This is what he told me anyway... but he doesn't speak very good english (chinese) and i find it frustrating because I can't ask questions because he just doesn't understand me!?! (a friend recommended me to him)
I got some herbs from him and he had organised daily bags of herbs and i have to boil them up and drain the leaves,roots, seeds and drink the tea (doesn't taste as bad as i was told it would) and it cost me $140 for 4 weeks herbs.... $20 acupuncture session....( i nearly fell over when he told me the price of the herbs!!) i see him weekly for acupuncture....
If I'm not pregnant this cycle (he said it would take 1 or 3mths) then I'm going to give him a miss and see another lady who I rang and she does the same thing however she specialises alot in women's fertility and being a woman herself she would understand it all more i feel anyway....

Anyway, I've just over-boiled my herbs (woops) and I better go drink em! oh, and he never told me what the herbs WERE! I asked and he said 'i only know chinese name' and I'm like "ooh ok great" lol so gosh knows what i'm eating.... it just looks like roots, leaves and seeds from the back yard!!!!

[Mrs P]

Hey Ren -glad you're trying AP!

$140 for herbs for a month is a bit pricey - I miss-typed my earlier message, mine were $50 for 4 weeks. But my AP is $70 a session (I get $25 back on health ins up to $540 for the year). So $20 is cheap!

I haven't had electro-AP but I do sometimes have 'moxa' which is where after the needles are in, a little cone of compressed herbs sits on the end of the needle and is set alight, to add extra heat!!

My AP guy is Australian, I picked him (from the phonebook!) because I wanted to be able to understand everything he said, and vice versa. And he's awesome!

He was away last week so I didn't get my weekly session, so now I'm feeling more stressed out and hanging out til Friday to see him again

[Shanti]

MrsP - yeah the lady i want to see is Australian and speaks english! YAY! So i want to see her next... I noticed after the AP appointment i felt so much more relaxed.... and still do!

Yes I believe I was slightly over-charged for those herbs... i mean $35 a week! He had already put each weekly dose in bags and mixed them up for me so i had no choice but to pay for them.... I had a $50 note in my hand to give to him and he said '$140' and i nearly died! Then i had to tell DH where all my money went!!

I'll let you know how this lady goes soon... I might even see her next week she's back from holidays 25th feb.

[Mrs P]

I know how you feel - my first appt with this current naturopath and it was

$100 for inital 1 hour consult
$90 for herbs (about 5-6 weeks worth)
$120 for other supplements
then
$160 for salivary hormone testing that she recommended I do (a traditional GP has since told me that they are a waste of time - not sure who I believe)

So that was $470!

Then 5 weeks later, another consult $90, more herbs $90, more supplements $80 = $260 more!!!

Ridiculous!!

Good luck with the new APer - I think I really am hooked on it

[Shanti]

MrsP - yes it all adds up hey.... *sighs* what we do for a baby hey.....
but it is so worth it.... thank you, i wish you all the very best and i hope you get yourhealthy BFP very soon too!

[naturalwoman]

Hi everyone,

I've just stumbled upon this thread and am very interested in the experiences and questions presented.

I'm a Melbourne based Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbal practitioner who specialises in women's health and am very interested in the experiences and perspective of women who access TCM services. It sounds like raved reviews from most of you.

To respond to some of your questions...

Average cost of AP consultations is between $50-$75. Some practitioners take longer, have more experience so charge more.

The best way to access a practitioner within your area is always by word of mouth, ask a friend.

You can also do a search on naturaltherapypages.com.au
I this event it is advisable to ask if they have experience in treating women health issues, pg, fertility (some specialise in musculoskeltal etc.treatments so are not so appropriate).

While not common to experience adverse reactions from AP it unfortunately does happen, the overwhelming treatment response is one of feeling calm and relaxed after the treatment . In the event of having a strong reaction it is best to contact your practitioner to discuss what might be done to assist you, you might need to be 'rebalanced'. I hoe that you don't get put off byit.

Hope that's helpful.

[Bathsheba]

Well I'm so inspired by this thread! I have an AP appointment booked for the 29th of March. My session will cost $50. It's at a new place in Melbourne Central, all the practitioners are approved. The therapist is going to try to help me with my thyroid issue I won't be buying any herbs, i've already decided. I just want to see the effect of the AP and the thyroid medication i have just started. I'll let you know how it goes!

[spicer]

Hi Dominque,

Completely new to this site and how the forum operates so hopefully this gets to you and you can reply with answers / comments. My name is Lynette, I'm 38yo, husband 36yo. We have a 4 yo daughter conceived first month of trying! but after approx 20 months of TTC No. 2 no joy! We've had all the tests and everything is fine but now getting quite fustrating. The reason fo my message I was also recommended Dr Bill Wong and had my first session last week. He also mentioned not eating any raw/uncooked foods. I'm still not sure why and will have to start my questions when I next see him.

I'd really be interested to know more of your story and how long it took you to become pregnant after seeing Bill and what foods you did/didn't eat.

Look forward to hearing from

With regard
Lynette

PS Hope your pregnancy is well and happy