JANET HUMPHREY ACUPUNCTURE, LLC
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

Janet is nationally certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in acupuncture and herbology (Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H.), and licensed in California, New York, Maryland, Washington DC, and Florida. Philosophy Most insurance plans are accepted for services provided that your plan has out-of-network benefits. Insurance policies vary greatly; in light of this we would be happy to verify your benefits to determine if your plan can be used for acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture fees vary by service provided. Please contact us for more information. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points known to be effective in restoring balance and resolving different health problems. Modern Western science can not yet explain how acupuncture works, and yet it has been empirically shown to be effective over thousands of years in restoring and maintaining health. As acupuncture grows in popularity, an increasing number of scientific studies are underway to provide evidence of its effectiveness and elucidate its mechanisms in Western scientific terms. Children are often treated with acupuncture, massage and herbs. Many children are comfortable with acupuncture needles, which are very fine and painlessly inserted. In the treatment of children a small number of needles are used and sometimes only massage or moxibustion techniques are used. Children are often treated with herbal therapy, in conjunction with acupuncture or on its own. Children respond very well to Traditional Chinese Medicine and it can help them through the common childhood illnesses in a way that supports their ongoing growth and health. Typical childhood ailments that respond well to acupuncture include colic, pediatric eczema, allergies, colds & flu, bronchitis, asthma, ear infections, bedwetting, restless sleep, hyperactivity, and attention deficit disorders, among others. Acupuncture and herbs have been used for over 2,000 years to treat pregnant and lactating women. There are a small number acupuncture points and selected herbs that are contraindicated during pregnancy. Acupuncture and herbs can help relieve various symptoms occurring during pregnancy, including morning sickness, and provide benefit to the developing fetus. Post-partum mothers are often treated to promote restoration of energy after childbirth, to support healthy lactation, and to balance hormones that commonly lead to post-partum depression and other disorders. Lactating mothers can also take herbal medicine safely. In fact, small babies are sometimes treated with herbs by supplying those herbs to the mother, who then makes them available to the baby through her breast milk. Chinese herbal formulas are used for a wide range of disorders, from the common cold and flu to allergies, indigestion, morning sickness, insomnia, anxiety, depression and hot flashes. Herbal formulas are often recommended in combination with your acupuncture treatment to increase effectiveness and accelerate progress. They can be taken at home and help to reduce the number of treatments required to resolve a condition. Most insurance is accepted provided that the plan has out-of-network benefits. Insurance policies vary greatly though, and we would be happy to verify any insurance policy to determine if it can be used at our office. Acupuncture typically qualifies for use with flexible spending health savings accounts. During the evaluation, the acupuncturist will feel the pulse on both wrists, look at the tongue, and palpate different muscle groups and points along the body’s meridian system. All of these methods provide information about how your body is functioning, and where its excesses or deficiencies are located. The acupuncturist will explain the assessment to you and the plan for treatment. Acupuncture in the U.S. has developed its own style, consistent with the evolving tradition of Chinese Medicine. Janet’s approach could be called “Contemporary Acupuncture.” This approach is distinguished by the inclusion of dialogue and interaction between the patient and provider that supports the patient in being an active participant in his or her own health care. Moxibustion is the use of a warming herb (mugwort) over selected points along the body’s meridian system. There are a number of different methods for applying moxibustion (or “moxa” for short). Indirect moxa involves holding a lighted stick of the herb over the point to warm it. With direct moxa, a salve is applied to the skin to protect it, and a thin thread of loose herb is lit directly over the salve to warm the point. Moxa cones may also be applied to the top of the acupuncture needles to provide warmth through the shaft of the needle. Moxa is used in the treatment of deficiencies, to warm and nourish the body, to relief acute local inflammation, and to provide extra energetic stimulation to a point. It is used along with the needles and sometimes on its own. Cupping involves the application of glass jars that create suction over the skin. A glass jar is held upside down and a flame is inserted and then quickly removed, creating a vacuum that provides suction when applied to the body. Cupping is used to remove stasis, spasm, pain and congestion in the body. It serves to bring circulation of blood and lymph to the area where it is applied. It is commonly used to relieve muscular tension as well as for internal disorders such as bronchitis and digestive problems. Cupping may temporarily leave small round red or pink discoloration on the skin, which generally clears within a few days. Small electrical currents (milli-or microcurrents) are sometimes added to the acupuncture needles to create a pronounced effect. The sensation is typically one of “pulsing,” where you will feel a painless movement of the muscle near the stimulated needle. It is occasionally used in cases of musculoskeletal pain or stasis of varying types. Microcurrent stimulation is effective in treating acute injuries and may also help in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and depression. Microcurrent is similar to the body’s own electrical impulses and is generally applied with little or sensation.