Frequently Asked Questions

Following recommended CoVID-19 safety procedures, we are serving patients in our Reston office

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General Questions

Why would I make an appointment with a Feeling Better Together practitioner?
Our practitioners are patient-focused, which means that patients receive tailored care with a strong emphasis on listening to the patient and building connections. We specialize in combining multiple modalities to treat patients and teaching patients how to be aware of the messages their own body provides in order to empower them to care for themselves. By partnering with patients in this way, are able to treat the whole patient. As Patch Adams said, “You treat disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person: I guarantee you win, no matter the outcome.”

Is Feeling Better Together covered by insurance?
We do not file with insurance companies. However, we can provide you a universal bill with insurance codes that you can use to file with your insurance company. A growing number of insurance companies will reimburse for acupuncture. However, please be aware that all other services offered by Feeling Better Together are not covered by insurance. Consult your insurer for the terms of coverage on your policy. Full payment to Feeling Better Together is required at the time of treatment.

What type of patients does Feeling Better Together see?
We treat both adults and children with a wide variety of symptoms.

Do I stop seeing my doctor or stop my prescription medications?
No. All of the services we offer work alongside any and all treatments your doctor is providing. Please do not stop seeing your doctor or following her or his advice. As Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) providers, we do not diagnose diseases; we address symptoms and support your body in its healing journey. 

Stopping any prescription medications can be life-threatening, so always partner with your doctor to monitor your medications. 

Free Clinic: Tailored Group Acupuncture

Why is Feeling Better Together hosting a Free Clinic?
At the core of our business, we want to make a difference in the world by helping people feel better, empowering people to understand how to help themselves and their loved ones heal, and building community. To achieve these goals, we want to make sure our business offerings align with our priorities, which means offering both private appointments and group care.  

The power of a group of people sitting together working toward balance and healing is a remarkable experience that builds community. We hope that you will join us and experience the magic. 

Is it really free? Or is there a catch?
It’s really free. There is no catch.

Is there a way to financially support the free clinic?
Not yet. Thank you for offering!

However, we are hoping to continue to grow in Northern Virginia and offer more of these community clinics. If you, someone you know, or a business you know would be willing to contribute to us growing this community outreach, we would love to talk about it in depth! Please email us at: office at feelingbettertogether dot com. 

Why do you use the ear?
In short, the ear is a microsystem of the entire body. This means that we can treat the entire body through the ear. After studying the ear in-depth, acupuncturists are able to use it to diagnose and treat all manner of conditions. 

I do not want needles. Is there a way for me to experience treatment?
Yes! We frequently use ear seeds instead of acupuncture needles. They are small seeds on bandages that we put on the ear. Instead of the point being stimulated by an acupuncture needle, the point receives acupressure with the seed. This needle-free approach is very effective—and you get to wear them home to continue the treatment for several days!

Auricular Medicine

What is Auricular Medicine?
Auricular Medicine is a specialized Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approach to whole-body care that uses three important aspects to finding out the root causes of symptoms: the ear, the pulse, and electrical imprints of specific body parts, viruses, bacteria, etc. Once the root cause is determined, we use SolNatural remedies (food-based nutritional supplements) to support the immune system to self-regulate in order to stop a disease process. Sometimes, based on the findings from an Auricular Medicine evaluation, we also use small Spinex needles in the ear to treat the body.

What will I experience during a typical Auricular Medicine appointment?
Patients lie comfortably on a massage-type table, face up, with a pillow under their knees. The practitioner will gently hold the patient’s wrist to feel the pulse. The patient will hold one metal rod in the right hand while another one rests just below the neck. Sometimes, patients report feeling a tingling or temperature change on their body as different energetic filters are tested. However, no electricity is ever used.

How long does an Auricular Medicine appointment take?
The first appointment is about two hours long, so that we can have time to talk with you about the history of your symptoms and also do an evaluation. Follow-up appointments are scheduled at 90 minutes, so that we can couple the follow-up Auricular Medicine evaluation with acupuncture. Paperwork and distribution of remedies might add additional time, but we try to be quick.

Are the SolNatural dietary supplements safe to use?
Yes. The SolNaturals are food remedies and their manufacturing is overseen by the FDA. They are in an alcohol and water base that suspends electrical imprints of the specific tissues, auto-antibodies, viruses, bacteria, etc. Before giving any SolNaturals out, we test each patient for an alcohol allergy and treat them with the SAAT (see below) as needed. Infants, the elderly, and everyone in between can safely use these sprays. The purpose of the SolNaturals is to help your immune system self-regulate.

Will the SolNatural dietary supplements interfere with my other medications?
No. These supplements work on a bio-energetic level to find energetic resonance within the body. If there is no electrical match in the body, the supplements will simply not be used by the body. Since traditional medications and herbal supplements work in the body differently from SolNaturals, they do not interfere with each other. Always continue working with your doctor and never reduce or stop any medications without her/his approval.

How long does it take to get better with SolNatural dietary supplements?
That is very patient-specific, and we cannot predict what your healing response or speed will be with the supplements. Factors such as the degree of damage already existing in the body, how long the body has been fighting a pathogen, the type of symptoms present, the varying constitutions of individuals, and the western medications a person is simultaneously taking all impact the response the body has to the SolNaturals. Also, the compliance of the patient in taking the supplements dramatically influences the body’s response to the SolNaturals. Typically, but not always, people will begin reducing the number of sprays taken daily after 8 to 16 weeks, gradually reducing to only take one spray, one time a week. Depending on where you live, some sprays might be taken daily as prevention for further illness (i.e., if you live on the East Coast, we might recommend you take a tick-borne illness supplement once a day during tick season).

Acupuncture

Does acupuncture hurt?
The sensations that patients experience during acupuncture range from feeling nothing at all to experiencing a brief ache or heaviness in the area being needled. Some points are more sensitive than others. Usually, patients describe the sensations as fleeting and deeply relaxing. Our practitioners always check in with patients to monitor how they are feeling during the session and make changes as needed. 

Are the needles safe?
Yes. Sterile disposable needles are used. They are used once and then disposed of immediately after use. All of our practitioners are certified in the Clean Needle Technique (CNT).

What is acupuncture doing to my body?
Acupuncture moves qi and blood. The exact specifics of how it does this is still being researched. While scientists don’t know exactly how acupuncture effects change, they do know it does effect change. Peer-reviewed research abounds in proving that patients have significant improvements in their symptoms. By moving the qi and blood, pain reduces and the body is better able to self-regulate to heal itself. 

What do I wear to my acupuncture appointment?
Something comfortable! If you can, we love it when you wear pants that can roll up just above the knee and shirts that can roll up above your elbow. However, you can change clothes upon arriving for your session, if needed. 

How frequently do I need to come to benefit from treatment?
That depends on why you are seeking acupuncture. If you are sick with a cold, then you might need two or three appointments only a few days apart to help your healing. If you are treating long-term emotional concerns, then we will ask you to come regularly over several weeks until your symptoms begin to change. After beginning care, we will have a better understanding of your healing journey and be able to speak more specifically about your care schedule. 

Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT)

What is the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT)?
This is a unique approach to handling a wide variety of allergies. We use the same evaluation technique as in Auricular Medicine, but we focus our testing to look for allergens causing struggle in your body. After testing for allergies, we isolate a pinpoint spot in the ear that is directly linked with that specific allergen. We insert a small Spinex needle and cover it with small bandages. Then, the patient wears it for approximately three weeks. 

Does SAAT really work?
For most of our patients: Yes! It works! Sometimes, there are cross-contamination allergens that we need to follow up on (like for chocolate). And, sometimes, we might add an additional form of treatment to deal with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which would make it difficult to clear any allergens without addressing this first. 

What types of allergies does SAAT address?
Any and all types of allergies. We have had great success in treating a wide variety of:
– foods (such as, but not limited to, oats, teas, nuts, fruits, vegetables, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, poultry, dairy, chocolate, alcohol, etc.), 
– environmental allergens (such as, but not limited to, trees, flowers, molds, dust, dust mites, dogs, cats, etc.)
– chemical allergens (such as, but not limited to, mattresses, paints, pesticides, house products, etc)
We also treat Alpha-Gal and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with a combination of SAAT and SolNatural dietary supplements. 

CranioSacral Therapy (CST)

What is CranioSacral Therapy (CST)?
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on modality that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and improve whole-body health and performance. Using a light touch, practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease and also to address a wide range of chronic and acute medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

Who benefits from CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy addresses many issues, including: Migraines and Headaches, Chronic Neck and Back Pain, Autism, Stress and Tension-Related Disorders, Motor-Coordination Impairments, Infant and Childhood Disorders, Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, TMJ Syndrome, Scoliosis, Central Nervous System Disorders, Learning Disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Orthopedic Problems, Concussion Recovery, and many more health concerns.

And, CranioSacral Therapy is amazing for stress reduction and preventative care. 

How does CranioSacral Therapy work?
Few structures have as much influence over the body’s ability to function properly as the central nervous system’s brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system: the membranes and fluid that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Restrictions in the flow of the craniosacral system can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. 

With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system.