Frequently Asked Questions

Most people are surprised by how little they feel. Acupuncture needles are nothing like injection needles; they're hair-thin. Most patients become deeply relaxed during treatment; some even fall asleep. If you're nervous about needles, tell me. We'll go at your pace, and touch therapies can carry more of the session.

Classical Chinese Medicine and Five Element acupuncture are the heart of my practice: fine needles at specific points to restore the body's own balance. Rather than simply addressing symptoms, I look for your constitutional strengths and the root cause of the imbalance, evaluating the whole person in body, mind, emotions and spirit, through physical assessment, palpation, pulse diagnosis and years of experience. Nearly all of my patients receive acupuncture combined with touch therapies, which have a synergistic effect.

Plan for 1.5 to 2 hours. We'll talk through your health history in real depth, I'll evaluate you as a whole person, through physical assessment, palpation and pulse diagnosis rather than a symptom checklist, and you'll receive your first treatment the same day. Every treatment plan is designed for one person: you.

Comfortable, loose clothing. The touch therapies I use, Zero Balancing and CranioSacral, are done fully clothed.

It depends on your condition and how long you've had it. Some patients feel a dramatic shift after one or two sessions; chronic conditions usually take longer. We'll assess progress together as we go. Once the original problem has settled, many patients choose to come for regular tune-ups to maintain balance and vitality.

No. Prevention and enhancing vitality are central to Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture supports the immune system, and a Chinese medicine evaluation can detect vulnerability in a system and treat it early, before symptoms manifest or worsen. Many patients come for periodic tune-ups to maintain balance and vitality.

I'm a CareFirst and Johns Hopkins Employee Health Plan provider. For other insurers, I provide receipts you can submit for reimbursement. Many plans now cover acupuncture, so it's worth checking yours.

Check or cash at the time of treatment.

Text me and I will call you back. You can also email me and put “Animal Acupuncture Inquiry” in the subject line. We’ll talk about your animal and schedule the first visit.

Office treatments are $125. House calls, for horses, senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues who may prefer to be treated at home, are priced by travel distance. The initial consultation and treatment take about an hour.

Yes. Arthritis and mobility issues are among the most common reasons animals come to me. But just as with people, the benefits go well beyond that: hip pain, dysplasia and lameness, recovery from injuries and surgeries, digestive and urinary problems, and behavioral issues such as fear and separation anxiety. Most dogs start with weekly visits for 3–4 weeks; then we space appointments out based on how your animal responds.

Yes. Many of my animal patients are seniors, and gentle acupuncture can support their comfort, mobility and quality of life. For senior dogs and dogs with mobility issues who may prefer to be treated at home, I make house calls, priced by travel distance.

My office is at 500 Francis Nicholson Way, Annapolis, MD 21401. Patients come from across Anne Arundel County, the greater Annapolis area and beyond. I also have clients from Montgomery County, Northern VA and, in the past, from Kent County across the Bay Bridge.

Text me at 410-294-4300. I'm with patients most of the day, so leave a message and I'll call you back. You can also email carol@slowdownandlive.com; please put “Acupuncture Inquiry” in the subject line, or “Animal Acupuncture Inquiry” if you're asking about your dog or horse.