Lotus Center of Healing, LLC

Acupuncture * Chinese Herbs * Medical Qigong * Yoga
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Acupuncture

Chinese herbs
Medical QigongYogaPregnancy Administrative

Acupuncture

Q: Is acupuncture safe?
A: Yes.  When performed by a licensed acupuncture physician, acupuncture is a low-risk treatment option.  Acupuncturists must adhere to strict safety procedures established by Federal and state agencies.  Under Florida law, only pre-sterilized, disposable, single-use needles can be used. 

A: Acupuncture needles are hair-thin, solid, stainless steel needles.  These needles are different than needles used for injections or drawing blood.  Acupuncture needles are gently inserted.  Most needles are inserted just beneath the surface of the skin.  There are a variety of sensations that the client can experience during the acupuncture treatment.  These sensations can include:  warmth, tingling, a slight dull achiness, slight itchiness, quick pinch like a mosquito bite, numbness, heaviness, swirling, opening of energy in an area, or no particular sensation.  Most people feel relaxed and peaceful; and some people fall asleep during their treatment. 

A: When coming for an acupuncture session, please refrain from using heavily scented products.  Prior to your visit, please try to avoid drinking coffee, eating a very large meal, or coming on an empty stomach.  Also refrain from drinking alcohol on the day of treatment; smoking excessively; or overexertion or heavy workouts for two hours prior to and after your treatment.  Do hydrate during the day with water or herbal teas.  This will ensure the best possible results from your treatment.  


Between your acupuncture sessions, take note of any changes in your symptoms, sleep, pain, energy, emotional state, and overall well-being. 

Many people believe that they should not come to their acupuncture treatment if they are sick with a cold or flu.  Yet, this is a good time to come to your appointment as acupuncture can help enhance the rate of recovery.  Just let your practitioner know of your condition.



Chinese herbs

Q: Are Chinese herbs safe?
A: We only offer the finest herb products.  These Chinese herbs meet rigorous standards of testing and clinical effectiveness.  Our herb products are selected from companies that comply with Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) standards, or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements. 

A: Chinese herbal practitioners design customized formulas while taking into consideration any possible contraindications with prescribed Western medicines. 


Q: How are Chinese herbs different than Western medicines?
A:
Chinese herbal formulas tend to be gentler than Western medicine; work to relieve symptoms; and help the body to come back into balance and health so that the herbs are not always needed.  For this reason, Chinese herbal formulas are often adjusted and modified as treatments progress, and the body's needs change. 


Q: How do I prepare for an Chinese herbal appointment?
A: When coming for an herbal session, please refrain from using heavily scented products.  Prior to your visit, please try to avoid drinking coffee, eating a very large meal, or coming on an empty stomach.  Also refrain from drinking alcohol on the day of treatment; smoking excessively; or overexertion or heavy workouts for two hours prior to and after your treatment.  Additionally, do not scrape or brush your tongue when you brush your teeth; and do not drink or eat any item that can can change the tongue color or coating including coffee, soda, juice, candy, fresh berries, and spicy or greasy foods.  Do hydrate during the day with water or herbal teas.  This will ensure the best possible results from your session.  


Between your herbal sessions, take note of any changes in your symptoms, sleep, pain, headaches, digestion, energy, temperature, skin reactions, emotional state, and overall well-being. 

Many people believe that they should not come to their herbal session if they are sick with a cold or flu.  Yet, this is a good time to come to your appointment as herbal remedies can help enhance the rate of recovery.  Just let your practitioner know of your condition. 



Medical Qigong

A: When coming for a Medical Qigong session, please refrain from using heavily scented products.  Prior to your visit, please try to avoid drinking coffee, eating a very large meal, or coming on an empty stomach.  Also refrain from drinking alcohol on the day of treatment; smoking excessively; or overexertion or heavy workouts for two hours prior to and after your treatment.  Do hydrate during the day with water or herbal teas.  This will ensure the best possible results from your session.  


Between your Medical Qigong sessions, take note of any changes in your symptoms, sleep, pain, energy, emotional state, and overall well-being. 

Many people believe that they should not come to their Medical Qigong session if they are sick with a cold or flu.  Yet, this is a good time to come to your appointment as Medical Qigong can help enhance the rate of recovery.  Just let your practitioner know of your condition. 



Yoga

A: Hatha yoga represents the yoga of physical well-being.  Most forms of yoga that are practiced in the United States fall under this category.  "Ha" in Sanskrit represents "sun", and "tha" represents "moon".  Therefore, Hatha yoga unites the polarities or opposites within ourselves.  This is accomplished by combining asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breath), and meditative relaxations. 

Karma yoga
is a yoga of selfless action or service.  Those that follow Karma yoga are not driven by reward or personal grandeur.  Instead, their focus is on performing acts with love and for the betterment of those they serve.

Raja yoga means royal yoga.  It is the yoga of meditation, and includes the teaching of hatha yoga.  Raja yoga uses an eight-stepped approach known as Ashtanga to obtain self-realization.  This eight-stepped approach is outlined in the Yoga Sutra by Patanjali.

Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion.  Those that practice bhakti yoga focus on a heart-centered approach to life.  Bhakti yoga incorporates rituals of devotion, prayers, invocations, and chanted mantras to connect with heart-centered universal love.

Jnana yoga represents the yoga of knowledge and wisdom.  Through this yogic practice, one seeks to understand their true self, mind and spirit through the pursuit of knowledge.  This wisdom is acquired by studying scriptures and other writings. 

Kundalini yoga is a yoga of energy.  This practice uses various techniques to raise and unite kundalini energies from the base of the spine to the crown of the head to achieve spiritual elation.  Due to the powerful nature of kundalini yoga, this practice is not recommended for most individuals in the West.  Traditionally, this path requires complete withdrawal from the responsibilities of functional, rational, and societal life. 


Q: How do I prepare for a yoga class?
A: Avoid eating 2 hours before class; hydrate before and after class; wear comfortable exercise clothes; bring a yoga mat or towel; arrive 10-20 minutes early; turn off cell phones and pagers; inform your teacher of any injuries or health concerns; honor your body by practicing at your own level; stay until the end of class.
 

Pregnancy

A: During pregnancy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be effective for the treatment of morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can also help relieve other discomforts from pregnancy including sciatica, back aches, and depression, and improve energy level.  Additionally, acupuncture and a technique knows as moxibustion can help turn breech babies to head-first presentations.  Moxibustion uses long sticks of the herb moxa (also known as mugwort or Artemisia vulgaris) to produce a gentle, warming sensation to an acupuncture point on the little toe. 

When a woman is pregnant, she can enhance her health through qigong.  This supports the child's development and their prenatal constitution including their congenital immunity.  Only certain Medical Qigong treatments can be engaged in during pregnancy.  These specific Medical Qigong treatments should be performed by a Medical Qigong Practitioner with specialized pregnancy training. 

A: During pregnancy, yoga helps to strengthen the body, mind, and spirit for child bearing and birth.  Prenatal yoga also helps to relieve some of the discomforts of pregnancy.  Yet, there are certain poses that are contraindicated or need to be modified.  A Registered Yoga Teacher with specialized prenatal certification should teach pregnancy yoga classes. 


Administrative

A: We do not bill health insurance.  Instead, we can provide you with a receipt that may be submitted to your insurer for possible reimbursement, or may be filed with your medical and dental expenses on federal income taxes subject to IRS limitations.  Therefore, payment is due at the time of service.  We accept cash, and check.  The returned check fee is $60.00.  

We are an out-of-network provider with the following insurance companies:  Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, and United Healthcare.

We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) cards.  If your HSA, FSA or HRA provider does not offer reimbursement cards, we can provide you with a receipt upon request that may be submitted to your HSA, FSA, or HRA provider for possible reimbursement.  Therefore, payment is due at the time of service.  We accept cash, check, and credit cards.  The returned check fee is $60.00.


A: While we can be reached by email at info@LotusCenterofHealing, the quickest way to contact us is by phone at 904.616.4934.  If we are with a client and unable to answer the phone, please leave us a voicemail message, and we will return your call shortly.