Acupuncture works in several ways but the most important functions are activating and deactivating the brain and nervous system.

We have a number of options that don’t involve needles. We can stimulate the points with a Microcurrent device, laser, or we can work with supplements and skip the acupuncture treatment all together.

Because most of the points we use are on the arms and legs (regardless of where your pain is located), we can do the treatment with you seated in a recliner. The group acupuncture is done in a room with several recliners. Because we can see more people per hour in this format, we pass the discount on to you.

When you schedule an appointment, you are reserving one on one time with a professional. Please give us as much notice as possible so we can try to fill the time you reserved with another patient. If you miss your appointment or cancel with less than 1 full business day before your appointment, you will be charged the full price for your scheduled appointment. If there is a time that we are both available within the next week, you can get a make up appointment in addition to your regularly scheduled appointments.

Stephen Durell, LAc completed a four-year graduate level program in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. He is national board certified in acupuncture (NCCAOM) and is licensed in Michigan. He has been practicing in Michigan since 2000. He has helped many thousands of patients over the last 2+ decades.

When possible, wear loose fitting clothing that can be pushed up above the knee and elbow. We have shorts and gowns for your use when necessary.

The exam and first treatment usually takes about 90 minutes. Please have your paperwork ready before the appointment start time. Follow up acupuncture visits are generally 45-60 minutes. We have a number of other treatment options that require less time in the office.

The number of treatments needed can vary a lot and we recommend you call the office for a no cost phone consultation. That said, most of our patients with new symptoms come in 2-4 times and conditions that have been going on for more than a year require 8-10 visits. Most of our patients have lasting or even permanent improvement after a full course of treatment. Whether you continue to get treatment will depend on your personal goals and needs. Many of our patients come in occasionally to combat stress, improve energy levels, and take care of conditions before they become severe. Ongoing treatment is not usually required to maintain symptom relief.

Absolutely! In fact, it is often important to treat multiple conditions because issues that cause systemic inflammation and stress are getting in the way of your body’s ability to heal itself.

Our patients who get multiple treatment modalities usually get better faster, though acupuncture is often helpful enough on its own. If you’re just getting started, it can be a good idea to avoid starting more than one type of treatment in the same week so you and your practitioners can have a better idea of what is helping. If you have another treatment that makes you feel more sore, it can be helpful to have acupuncture afterward.

If your condition has been limiting your activity, don’t add the activity back until the results are stable. And, generally, anything that is good for your body will help you heal faster. Try to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water each day, and get good sleep if possible. Exercise is great but if you’re training hard, plan a light workout the day of the treatment.

Dry needling is acupuncture and only licensed acupuncturists and MDs or DOs with hundreds of hours of additional training are allowed to provide it legally. Weekend coursed offered for ‘dry needling’ do not prepare people to provide this service safely. Further, a complete understanding of acupuncture allows for a better result as the most important points affect the brain and nervous system - not just trigger points - though we can do this when needed.

Acupuncture and herbal therapy can both be stand alone treatments and we are happy to help you with either type of treatment. Our patients that use both, usually get better faster and require fewer acupuncture treatments. And, there are times that one treatment will offer benefits that the other cannot.

The brands that I choose aren’t the only good supplements but there is a lot out there that is not worth taking at all. I’ve thoroughly vetted the brands that I choose and have even been to the farm where much of it is grown and the facility where it is processed. Taking the supplements that I recommend takes the guess work out of ‘Is the patient taking a sub standard product or is my thinking wrong.’ And, we offer the products at a price that is generally below what you can find online.

We keep most of the supplements that we recommend in stock. If you plan to stop by to pick them up, it may be a good idea to call ahead so we can check our inventory. If you prefer to have the items shipped to you directly, you can call the office 616.855.7718 or set up a patient account www.standardprocess.com/patient-direct and enter the practice code 7PYD4H. If you’re not a current patient, many of the products we recommend are available at https://awm.standardprocess.com/

We do our best to keep our fees affordable as a fee for service treatment and very competitive for our area. The total cost will depend on what specific treatments and procedures you need as well as how many visits are required. We offer a no cost phone consultation for new patients so we can give you a better estimate of your needs.

Insurance coverage is not yet routine in Michigan, though some of our patients have limited coverage. We are able to keep costs down for all of our patients by not offering insurance billing as a service. If you have coverage, you will pay at time of service and we can provide a receipt with the medical codes for you to seek reimbursement directly from your insurance company. Further, we believe that medical decisions should be made by our patients, with our help. Insurance companies often dictate treatment in a way that is not in your best interest. They also dictate how we bill for services that I often do not charge extra for. Many of our patients use HSA cards to pay.