Specialty

• Musculoskeletal Pain
• Spine and Disc Pain
• Post-Surgical Pain
• Radicular Pain
• Tendinopathy
• Paresthesia
• Headaches

Common Conditions (but not limited to)

• ​Fertility
• Smoking Cessation

Chronic Care Management

• ​Arthritis
• Parkinson’s
• Women's Health​​​

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.

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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.

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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.

Acupuncture

• Initial Visit - $150 (75 min)
• Follow-Up - $110 (60 min)
• Full Body - $150 (75 min front and back are treated in one session)
• Community Acupuncture - $65 (45 min - 1 hr)

Acupuncture + Herbal Medicine Consultation

• Initial Visit - $175 + Cost of Herbs (90 min)
• Follow-Up - $135 + Cost of Herbs (75 min)
• Full Body - $175 + Cost of Herbs (90 min front and back are treated in one session)‍

Ancillary

• Cupping - $65 (45 min)
• Gua Sha - $65 (45 min)

Education:

• Master's in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, Pacific College of Health and Science New York
• Neurofunctional Acupuncture Program, McMaster University faculty, New York, New York
• Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC), San Diego, California

Certifications:

• NCCAOM Board Certified in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
• Certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture®
• Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Certified

Professional Memberships:

• Association for Professional Acupuncture in Pennsylvania (APA)
• American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA)

Current Positions:

• Acupuncturist, UPMC Center for Integrative Medicine
• Owner, Integrative Health Group

To make an appointment, if you are self-paying, please send a message through the book tab. If you are using health insurance, please complete the following before scheduling an appointment; once completed, Integrative Health Group will reach out to schedule.

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1. Upload insurance benefits Allow up to 3 business days for benefits to be uploaded.
2. Complete the CC agreement sent to you via email. All insurance patients must have a valid credit card on file.
3. UPMC insurance patients fax a doctor's referral for acupuncture to 412-561-1750.

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After an appointment is scheduled, a confirmation email is sent.  Located at the bottom of the email, refer to the link "fill intake form" to complete paperwork prior to treatment. If you are a UPMC insurance patient, additional paperwork will be sent to you via email; please print, complete, and bring it to your appointment.

Cancellation Policy

Please provide a 24-hour notice to info@integrativehealthgrp.com or call (412) 606-0804. For those who excessively cancel and or reschedule, the full amount of the service booked will be charged at the time of booking the appointment.

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‍Sick/Covid-19 Office Policy​

Please wait until you are fully recovered before scheduling an appointment. Please take a minimum of three weeks to fully recover after a COVID-19 diagnosis. This ensures that you are completely ready and able to benefit from your treatment.​

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Health Insurance Policy

A valid credit card must be on file prior to treatment.

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Health insurance patients are responsible for any charges incurred at Integrative Health Group. This includes:  

1. Copay  
2. Co-insurance: $100 cash deposit is made on the day of the first treatment. $100 will cover future treatment coinsurances; at the end of treatments, if there is money left over, it will be refunded to the patient.   
3. Treatments not covered by health insurance​: cupping and or other conditions treated that insurance will not cover.
4. Denied claim fee of $110: Integrative Health Group will rectify any denied claims by appealing, but the insurance company ultimately decides whether to pay for the claims. In the rare event that the health insurance company refuses to pay for the claims, the valid credit card on file will be charged a follow-up acupuncture self-pay fee of $110 for every denied claim.

All major credits cards, cash, and HSA/FSA cards.

Acupuncture has been most recognized for the following therapeutic responses:

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​Stress reduction

Anti-inflammatory response

Accelerates tissue healing

Pain relief

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

It is recommended to wait and do acupuncture if you have the following:

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1. Blood pressure higher than 160

2. In the midst of a health crisis

3. Under the influence of drugs and alcohol

4. Feeling sick or excessively tired

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All cautions such as age, cancer, pregnancy, chronic diseases, blood thinners, surgeries, medications, are considered, and the treatment is adjusted accordingly.

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.

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The central mechanism behind acupuncture needling is 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.

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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.

It is recommended to have something light to eat 1-2 hours before getting treated.

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.

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.

​Herbal medicine can be taken internally or applied topically. Topical herbal medicine can come in various forms, such as ointments, liniments, plasters, and soaks. When applied topically, it is commonly used to heal injuries, reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, and relieve skin irritation, such as rashes and eczema. Internal herbal medicine comes in several forms, such as granules, capsules, or tea pills. Internal herbal medicine is used to balance the way our body is functioning and strengthen and repair tissues.

All herbs are laboratory-tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbes by a GMP-certified manufacturer. Independent US testing verifies product safety. All raw materials are rigorously inspected and authenticated before use. Fingerprint-illustrating technologies such as TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and HPLC(High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) confirm identification, ensure potency, and test for active constituents.

Cupping improves peripheral blood circulation to help diminish stubbornly fixed pain and enhance immunity.  Depending on your condition, the type of cup, the duration, and how the cups are used are taken into consideration. Cups are placed on the appropriate area, which create a suctioning on the skin, which causes therapeutic petechiae and ecchymosis on the site which is being cupped. The mechanism behind cupping activates physiological and mechanical changes that positively affect the immune system and surrounding tissues.

Often referred to as skin scraping, gua sha can be applied to various areas, including the back, neck, arms, and legs. During the treatment, the technique may induce petechiae—small red spots on the skin to stimulate both the immune and nervous systems, initiating a beneficial cascade of physiological responses. Research suggests that, when performed correctly, gua sha can release substances that improve blood flow, eliminate toxins, alleviate pain, and promote overall healing. Gua sha may be particularly effective for addressing a range of issues, such as muscle tightness, swelling, anxiety, and sinus pressure fatigue.

Infrared light penetrates the muscles, nerves, and even the bones. Infrared therapy is safe and effective in providing long-lasting pain relief, healing injured body parts, and reducing inflammation. Conditions that can be treated by infrared therapy include joint pain, joint inflammation, muscle pain, spine injuries, nerve pain, and sports injuries.