Acupuncture

Improve Health
& Wellbeing With

Acupuncture

Shen Dao Clinic has been serving the valley since 2008 with experienced acupuncture and healing arts for the Harrisonburg community. Our licensed acupuncturist has extensive training in determining the source and nature of your symptoms, thus, developing a treatment plan that will appropriately and effectively address your individual needs. We also work with you to provide education, exercises, and medicinal herbs to improve health and wellbeing.

closeup of patient's back while receiving therapy at Shen Dao

What Is Acupuncture &

How Does It Work?

During an acupuncture session, we apply surgical stainless steel needles in specific locations on the body to decrease pain, improve circulation, and promote healing. Acupuncture has been a viable treatment and restorative component of balanced living for centuries.

Address Symptoms

At Their Root Cause

We frequently hear from patients that they have encountered limits in their path to health and wellness. They have tried various medications and therapies to alleviate illness but with limited or short-term benefits. At Shen Dao Clinic, we address your physiological and emotional health to identify your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan. We administer therapies that address the underlying causes of your condition and support your body’s natural healing abilities. Below are some of the conditions we treat. Not seeing your condition listed? We invite you to call or email our clinic to discuss your options.

Digestive Conditions

Constipation
Digestive Issues
GERD
IBS

Neurological Disorders

Autoimmune Conditions & Immune System Challenges

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Emotional Disharmonies

Anxiety
Depression
Insomnia
PTSD
Stress

Fitness & Weight Loss Goals

Dietary Consultations
Exercise Therapies

Reproductive Health

Fertility Issues
Menopausal Symptoms
Painful Menses
PMS Symptoms
Pregnancy Challenges

Other

Chronic Inflammation
Post-Concussive Disorders
Recurrent Infections
Seasonal Allergies

Not Seeing Your Condition Listed?

Shen Dao Clinic practitioner lifting a patient's leg

Our Integrative Approach

Empowers Patients

Acupuncture and traditional healing arts complement western medicine. We provide a treatment process that addresses issues at their root cause. Additionally, we support our patients in actively managing their health by providing at-home exercises, natural medicinal herbs, and dietary strategies that complement our therapies and improve well-being.

We Offer A Comprehensive &

In-Depth Process

We value your time and provide a streamlined process for getting started with Shen Dao Clinic.

Schedule
An Appointment

Get in touch with us to schedule an appointment to discover how acupuncture and integrative therapies can help you.

Get In Touch

In-Depth
Consultation

During our initial intake and treatment session, we will inquire and assess your current physiological and emotional state to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Tailored
Treatment

We customize our treatments to your body and individual needs, offering an alternative healing strategy that naturally complements allopathic/conventional medicine.

New To Acupuncture?

Here’s What You Need To Know:

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the application of small, stainless steel surgical needles at specific locations on a person’s body. Acupuncture supports the body’s natural healing abilities and reduces inflammation and pain. We use this technique to remove obstructions in circulatory pathways, support lymphatic flow, and balance muscle tension. Acupuncture is used to treat a myriad of symptoms and conditions while improving whole-body wellness.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Typically acupuncture does not hurt but patients may experience a sensation regional to the point of insertion. Patients generally feel relaxed during the treatment session and report feeling more balanced afterward.

Does Acupuncture Work?

Yes! Scientific studies have shown acupuncture to be an effective treatment for many chronic and acute conditions. In one scientific study profiled in the leading journal, Nature, acupuncture was shown to target a specific subset of neurons that “trigger an anti-inflammatory response via this signaling pathway”¹. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have researched acupuncture and determined it an effective treatment for many chronic issues like back pain, arthritis, addiction, pain, nausea and more². In a 2012 clinical trial published in JAMA, researchers found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for patients with four chronic conditions, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain. That study found significant benefits for patients treated with legitimate acupuncture compared to patients treated with “sham” acupuncture or no acupuncture at all³. We find that patients experience less pain and greater wellbeing after an acupuncture session.

¹ Caruso, Catherine. “Exploring The Science of Acupuncture” Harvard Medical School Nov 1, 2021. https://hms.harvard.edu/news/exploring-science-acupuncture 8/24/22

² “Acupuncture” Johns Hopkins Medicine https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/acupuncture#:~:text=National%20Institutes%20of%20Health%20 8/24/22

³ Vickers, Andrew J, DPhil; Angel M. Chronic, MS; Alexandra C. Maschino, BS. “Acupuncture for Chronic Pain” JAMA May 28, 2012. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1357513 2/17/23

Do You Accept Insurance?

We do not work directly with your insurance company, however, some patients use their flex spending accounts to cover treatment costs.

What Do I Wear To The Session?

Loose, comfortable clothes that do not restrict movement are best. We also have means of providing body coverage so that patients feel comfortable during the treatment process.

How Long is A Session?

Initial intake sessions require about an hour in the office, with follow-up visits requiring less time.

How Much Does it Cost?

We charge $150 for the initial intake and treatment session. Follow-up treatments are $125. Patients may purchase groups of treatments at discounted rates, ranging from $110 for a group of five sessions ($550) and $115 for a group of three sessions ($345).

Do You Work With Children? Is There An Age Limit?

Yes! We work with children and apply treatments that are appropriate to their age and comfort.

How Long Have You Been In Business?

We have been serving the Shenandoah Valley since 2008.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a term often used by physical therapists and chiropractors used to describe a technique for muscle stimulation using a needle. It’s called dry needling because nothing is injected into the body with the needle.

What Is The Main Difference Between Dry Needling & Acupuncture?

The tool used for dry needling and acupuncture is the same. Both practices use acupuncture needles, which are solid filiform needles. However, where dry needling and acupuncture differ, is the technique and theory for how and where the needles are placed.

Dry needling focuses on using strong stimulation techniques with the acupuncture needles on the muscles to get them to release. It is sometimes referred to as “trigger point therapy”.

Acupuncture, on the other hand, generally does not use strong stimulation and it is based on meridian theory. Acupuncture uses points to bring balance in the circulatory processes, and support the natural healing process in the body.

How Does The Acupuncture Process Differ From Dry Needling?

Acupuncture sees the body as a whole in its treatment process, often inserting the needles in the region of discomfort and other points along the meridian pathways. Acupuncture is also able to address other systemic related conditions and disharmonies in the body of a physical and emotional state.

Whereas dry needling focuses the technique exclusively on the acute region of discomfort in the body.

How Does The Body React In Dry Needling Vs Acupuncture?

The experience for the patient will be significantly different between these two different forms of treatment. Although there may be some sensation at the region of insertion, acupuncture is generally not painful. Dry needling can be quite painful in the process of vigorously stimulating the area of pain with the acupuncture needle. Additionally, most individuals find the experience of acupuncture to be quite relaxing (particularly with the additional therapies we integrate at the Shen Dao clinic).

What Kind Of Education/Training Is Needed

A key difference between dry needling and acupuncture is the amount of training required to administer each of these forms of treatment.

Acupuncture involves significantly more training. Acupuncture licensing requires graduating from an accredited school and hundreds of hours of both classroom training and study, and clinical practice experience.

Dry needling, on the other hand, only requires minimal training. There is some range in the requirements, though some states require as little as 24 hours of classroom training to be able to administer dry needling treatment.

Improve Health
& Wellbeing With

Acupuncture

What Is Acupuncture &

How Does It Work?

Address Symptoms

At Their Root Cause

Not Seeing Your Condition Listed?

Our Integrative Approach

Empowers Patients

We Offer A Comprehensive &

In-Depth Process

Schedule
An Appointment

In-Depth
Consultation

Tailored
Treatment

New To Acupuncture?

Here’s What You Need To Know:

Have A Question?

Get In Touch!

Acupuncture

Improve Health & Wellbeing With

Acupuncture

What Is Acupuncture &

How Does It Work?

Address Symptoms

At Their Root Cause

Not Seeing Your Condition Listed?

Our Integrative Approach

Empowers Patients

We Offer A Comprehensive &

In-Depth Process

Schedule An Appointment

In-Depth Consultation

Tailored Treatment

New To Acupuncture?

Here’s What You Need To Know:

Have A Question?

Get In Touch!

Improve Health
& Wellbeing With

Schedule
An Appointment

In-Depth
Consultation

Tailored
Treatment