FAQS

The most effective way to contact us is through email at info@integrativehealthgrp.com. We aim to respond within the same day, but emails received after 5 PM will be addressed on the following business day.​

Please refer to the link below and follow the directions. ​ ​ ​

Please email info@integrativehealthgrp.com with the day and time. For pricing, please refer to self pay.

If you are a self-pay patient, a doctor's referral is not needed. UPMC insurance patients must have a doctor's referral for acupuncture faxed to Integrative Health Group at 1 (412) 561-1750 before an appointment can be made. Without this referral your claim will be denied. Integrative Health Group will reach out to schedule once we have the doctor's referral.

Acupuncture during pregnancy should be performed by a qualified, licensed practitioner with experience in treating pregnant patients. With a high success rate in assisting with IUI, IVF, and natural conception, IHG provides care that optimizes fertility while ensuring safety throughout pregnancy.

After your appointment is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email containing the details of your appointment, including our address and contact information. Located at the bottom of the email there is a link "fill intake form" which allows you to complete paperwork prior to treatment. UPMC health insurance patients will receive additional paperwork via email. Please print, complete, and bring to your appointment. ​

Have something light to eat 1-2 hours before treatment. If you have high blood pressure higher than 160, you should wait to do acupuncture until it is under control. Additionally, acupuncture should not be done during a health crisis or under the influence of drugs and alcohol. All cautions and contraindications, such as age, cancer, pregnancy, and chronic diseases, are considered, and the treatment is adjusted accordingly.

After an acupuncture session, you may feel relaxed or energized. You may feel some soreness, similar to working out. For some, there is instant relief; for others, improvements are more noticeable as the days progress. In the first 48 hours, the body is adjusting the most; it's recommended to take it easy. Drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest can help maximize acupuncture's benefits.

On occasion, as the body is adjusting and becoming healthier, side effects may include fatigue, soreness, dizziness, and emotional release. Typically, this lasts 24 hours. Yes, acupuncture is safe when performed by a qualified and licensed practitioner. Board-certified licensed acupuncturists adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct to ensure the safety and efficacy of your treatment. Acupuncture is generally not painful. Patients may feel a slight sensation when the needles are inserted, but this is typically not painful.

Due to acupuncture's self-healing nature, the number of treatments varies widely. Age, medical history, and the condition being treated inform how many treatments it may require. For many, acupuncture helps to provide relief and reduce flare-ups. People use acupuncture to alleviate symptoms, and once relief is achieved, treatments can stop; others use acupuncture periodically to manage ongoing stressors and chronic conditions. To have a better understanding of how many treatments are needed, it is recommended that an initial appointment is made. In general, the treatment process has a beginning, middle, and end. The number of sessions is often determined by how fast improvements are made in the beginning stages. If there are marked improvements in the beginning stages, fewer sessions are usually needed. The beginning is when marked improvements will be made, and the middle is where we build on this and take it as far as we can until we hit the maximum therapeutic benefit. The middle stage should build steadily, where your condition(s) improve. The end stage is where the progress is stable and lasting.

Treatments are typically 60-75 minutes.

All major credit cards, HSA/FSA, and cash are accepted.

Please navigate to the acupuncture page. If your condition falls under one of the categories listed there, we can assist you. For instance, back pain would be categorized as musculoskeletal pain.

Yes.

Your appointment and convenience are of high importance. IHG understands unexpected circumstances may require schedule adjustments. If you need to cancel or change an appointment, please provide a 24-hour notice to info@integrativehealthgrp.com or (412) 606-0804. ​

Acupuncture jump-starts our self-healing ability by delivering precise mechanical signaling in the body that induces a physiological response. Acupuncture needle stimuli promote the release of endorphins and blood flow, move lymph, boost homeostasis, and improve the integrity of tissues. Research has found some acupuncture treatments to produce an analgesic effect (decrease pain) mediated partly by endogenous opioids in the hypothalamus, midbrain, and spinal cord. The central mechanism behind acupuncture needling is that it helps to normalize and balance the way our body functions by stimulating the part of the brain that controls several systems, such as the musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Research shows that the brain and spinal cord react positively to acupuncture stimulation, which induces systemic benefits. Clinical evidence shows that acupuncture stimulation normalizes the activities of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to restore optimal homeostasis, a state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly.

Acupuncture has been most recognized for the following therapeutic responses: ​ ​Stress reduction Anti-inflammatory response Accelerates tissue healing Pain relief Changing our body functions is cumulative and happens over time. Acupuncture treatments equip you with a therapeutic tool to incorporate into your lifestyle to promote the longevity of your health by stimulating your natural ability to self-regulate and heal. The NIH states, "Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic, such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain, tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider." Acupuncture has been identified to treat a wide variety of conditions and strengthen our overall response to ongoing stressors. Depending on your condition, Acupuncture may be used as a stand-alone or adjunct therapy along with primary care and or other therapeutic interventions.

Board-certified licensed acupuncturists are primary providers of traditional and modern acupuncture styles. Their extensive background and clinical experience at the master's and doctorate levels provide a strong foundation and firm understanding of how acupuncture can positively affect muscles, nerves, and physiology. Board-certified licensed acupuncturists take annual advanced education and a commitment to ethical business practices and professional conduct to ensure you are treated by someone qualified and committed to the acupuncture profession.