Acupuncture utilizes the insertion of small, thin, stainless steel needles into specific acupuncture points in the body. The needles stimulate a healing response from the body, sending helpful, inflammatory healing properties to the site of the needle and stimulating a full body healing response. Acupuncturists determine the root cause of your imbalance and utilize acupuncture points specific to your condition based on our understanding of physiology and Chinese Medicine theory.
We work with veterans through the VA and accept VA insurance. We are unable to accept private insurance at this time due to a lack of licensure through the state of South Dakota. Fun fact: we are one of two states in the US that does not license acupuncture! Unfortunately, until we have state licensure, South Dakota based health insurance plans will not accept us. We have had patients have luck submitting insurance to their out of state plans, and will happily provide anyone with a Superbill at their request.
Dry Needling, like Acupuncture, involves the insertion of small, thin, stainless steel needles into the body. Dry Needling is well known for treating pain, especially painful muscles, by inserting needles directly into the area of pain and surrounding trigger points. Dry Needling is within our scope of practice as Acupuncturists, and if the need is there we will utilize those techniques in treatment. However, Acupuncture is based on Chinese Medicine and is a “root cause” based approach - meaning we are interested in determining the ROOT of your pain or illness, and treating that as well as acute injury sites. So, Acupuncture can include Dry Needling but also much, much more!
Our Acupuncturists at Thrive are all Nationally Board Certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Committee of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) and all hold at least Master’s Degrees in Acupuncture. We have all completed at least 3500 hours of training in Acupuncture, including a full year of clinical rotations. Because we lack licensure in the state of South Dakota, Chiropractors who have had much, much less training in Acupuncture can say they practice Acupuncture - though most of the time the difference in our education and training is vast. It’s important to find out who’s needling you and what sort of training and certifications they have earned! Our patients who have had Chiropractic Acupuncture in the past notice the difference in our treatment styles and results, and we believe you will too!
In so many ways! Acupuncture is well known for helping with all women’s health concerns, not just fertility, but has gained ground in recent years for its positive impacts in the role of successful IVF pregnancies. Acupuncture helps fertility by increasing the circulation to the uterus, balancing hormones, promoting healthy ovulation, promoting healthy menstruation, easing stress (which wreaks havoc on hormones!), and addressing underlying health issues which could be impacting fertility.
Yes! In short, Acupuncture can help the body heal from anything that the body is capable of healing from. We can help improve sleep, digestion, regulate the immune system, relieve anxiety, accelerate healing of acute injuries or surgeries, promote overall wellness and sense of wellbeing, and so much more! Please contact us with any specific condition or concern you have and our acupuncturists would be happy to chat with you!
At your first visit, our acupuncturists will perform a detailed intake of your medical history and current conditions and goal for treatment, a physical exam, and an acupuncture treatment.
People typically feel some sense of relief after one treatment, though depending on the condition and severity of the condition, relief at first may only last a few days. At our clinic, we like to see patients consistently and weekly until they have sustained symptom relief for two weeks. At that point we know that we are effectively treating the root cause and undoing a pattern of disharmony in the body that has been causing the symptoms. For some pain and chronic conditions, acupuncture is needed for a full course of 12 treatments before the body begins to sustain symptom relief for two weeks. For other conditions, especially acute conditions, 3-6 treatments may only be necessary. Many of our patients continue seeing us for monthly tune ups well after their chronic condition is under control, as they’ve come to enjoy the full benefits of what acupuncture has to offer their body, mind & soul!
Integrative Medicine is best explained in this short YouTube video by Andrew Weil, MD: What Is Integrative Medicine? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Like what most people consider to be Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine combines the best of what conventional medicine has to offer such as testing and life-saving pharmaceuticals, with the wisdom of “natural” modes of healing such as dietary and lifestyle recommendations, supplements and herbal therapies, and body-mind therapies that all promote healing, health and well-being.