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Thoughtful Compassionate Caring Acupuncture in Oakland, CA
Also Serving Alameda, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, and San Francisco
1 Rio Vista Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
Welcome to Red Bird Acupuncture!
At Red Bird Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, you will find a place to rest, restore, and trust that you will receive attentive, individualized care to support your health. Expert acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments, rooted in the wisdom of Chinese Medicine, address the symptoms and their underlying causes. Our focus is on pain management, cosmetic acupuncture, and relief for menopausal symptoms while also attending to a broad range of health issues like insomnia, digestive complaints, and stress.
Your unique lifestyle informs our personalized treatment plans, which we adapt to address your changing needs at each visit. With years of experience treating hundreds of patients, we offer skilled and compassionate care to help you achieve optimal health and live your daily life to the fullest with ease and freedom.
Contact our clinic to schedule an appointment and experience the difference in your health and well-being!
Our Services
Cosmetic Acupuncture
Discover a minimally invasive treatment to help smooth wrinkles, plump skin, and attain a more youthful complexion. Find out how Chinese medicine treatments at Red Bird Acupuncture can rejuvenate your skin today.
Acupuncture for Pain Relief
If you have an acute injury or chronic pain, Red Bird Acupuncture can help you heal. Learn how acupuncture can help you return to your favorite activities more quickly.
Pre and Post-Operative Recovery
Acupuncture can improve recovery time after surgical procedures. Discover how treatment with Red Bird Acupuncture can help prepare you for surgery and help you heal afterward.
Perimenopause and Menopause
Acupuncture and herbal medicine effectively treat menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood disturbances, and low libido. Elizabeth has helped many patients to manage and improve these troubling symptoms, including many other puzzling symptoms related to menopause.
Micro-Acupuncture for Vision Loss
Micro-acupuncture is an acupuncture method that may significantly improve the vision of patients who suffer from genetic or degenerative vision loss. Contact Red Bird Acupuncture to discover how micro-acupuncture can halt vision loss and restore your vision.
Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal formulas have been effective health remedies for over 2000 years. At Red Bird Acupuncture, formulas are carefully crafted for each individual to treat specific health conditions, whether acute or chronic. Find out how personalized herbal formulas can help you restore your health.
Gua Sha
Gua sha is an ancient body treatment in which the surface of the skin is scraped (but not broken) using a smooth hand-held tool. Gua sha releases blockages in the body that may be the cause of painful conditions. It is not only effective, but it also feels great! Contact Red Bird Acupuncture to see how gua sha treatments can benefit your health and well-being.
Cupping
Plastic suction cups are placed on the body to treat painful areas. Patients often report feeling relief from tight, stiff, aching muscles and an increased range of motion after a cupping session. Discover how a simple, noninvasive technique can help you feel better fast.
Testimonials
Elizabeth has been a vital part of caring for my body. She is an attentive, kind, and informative practitioner. I found Elizabeth when i was in an intense body crisis and she has helped me rest back into a better, more regulated state! So grateful for your work and wisdom. Thank you Elizabeth!
I have been seeing Elizabeth for a couple of months now and am so grateful I found her. She is very knowledgeable and extremely skilled, especially when it comes to orthopedics. She is kind, caring, and attentive to my needs and concerns. She is always willing to answer my questions and share her knowledge of the body and acupuncture.
As a person going through chemotherapy I can say that Elizabeth is a truly gifted practitioner. Not only is she a very knowledgeable acupuncturist, but she is also kind, compassionate, highly intuitive and flexible. If you need help getting through cancer, please consider working with Elizabeth Howe of Red Bird Acupuncture.
FAQs
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Very fine, thin needles are inserted into points on the body to correct imbalances that are causing symptoms of dysfunction, and distress in both the body and the mind. Elizabeth employs multiple styles of acupuncture and designs a unique treatment for each patient and for each visit. And yes, the term “Dry needling,” is in fact, Acupuncture!
For acute issues, 6 treatments are recommended in close succession, a minimum of twice a week for three weeks. Often symptoms may be relieved after only the first few treatments.
For longer-standing symptoms, expect improvement after 8 to 12 treatments, with continued treatments to attain optimal recovery.
Maintenance: Chinese medicine emphasizes preventative care. Patients often come in for treatment once or twice per month on a regular basis to maintain their health and to ward off potential ailments.
What does acupuncture feel like?
Patients describe sensations ranging from a tingling to a feeling of heaviness in the place of the needle insertion, and sometimes a radiation to other parts of the body, although it not usually an unpleasant feeling. Sometimes an acupuncture point may be more sensitive or tender depending on the patient’s condition and the location of the point, however, please be assured that your every comfort is taken into consideration during the treatment. Patients often fall asleep and feel quite relaxed during the treatment and wake feeling refreshed and more themselves.
New Patient Visit: 60-90 minutes.
During the visit, Elizabeth will go over your health history in detail and determine a course of treatment for your health concerns. You will receive an acupuncture treatment, an herbal consultation if applicable, as well as any appropriate body treatments including electrical stimulation, cupping, gua sha, or targeted massage.
Follow-up visit: 50 minutes.
You will discuss with Elizabeth your symptoms and overall well-being and Elizabeth will adjust your acupuncture treatment and herbal formula to meet your needs. E-stim, cupping, gua sha, and targeted massage, if appropriate, may be utilized as necessary to optimize your treatments.description
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The frequency of acupuncture reatments is determined by several factors, including the nature and severity of the condition being treated, your overall health status, your lifestyle, and your response to treatment. Generally, the treatment plan can be categorized as follows:
Acute Conditions
For acute health issues, a more intensive treatment schedule is typically recommended:
• Frequency: 1-3 sessions per week
• Duration: 1-6 weeks
This concentrated approach aims to address the immediate concern and provide rapid relief.
Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions that have persisted for months or years often require a more extended treatment plan:
• Frequency: 1 session per week
• Duration: 3-6 months or more
• It’s important to note that many patients report significant symptom improvement after 6-8 treatments. This is attributed to the cumulative effect of acupuncture, where each session builds upon the benefits of previous treatments.
Individualized Treatment Plans
At Red Bird Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, we will assess your unique circumstances to develop a personalized treatment plan. Regular evaluation of your progress allows for adjustments to the treatment frequency and duration as needed.
In conclusion, while these guidelines provide a general framework, the optimal acupuncture treatment schedule should be determined through an initial appointment with Dr. Howe who will take into account your specific health needs and treatment goals.
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To optimize your acupuncture treatment, please consider the following guidelines:
1. Ensure proper hydration prior to your appointment.
2. Consume a light meal 1-2 hours before your scheduled session.
3. Wear loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to your arms, legs, and torso.
Your comfort is our priority, and we assure you that you will be fully and discreetly draped throughout the duration of your treatment. These preparations will help maximize the effectiveness of your acupuncture session and enhance your overall experience.
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Following an acupuncture session, the majority of patients report experiencing a state of relaxation and improved sleep quality that evening. Patients receiving treatment for musculoskeletal pain may experience localized soreness at the treatment site, which typically subsides within 24-48 hours. Nevertheless, patients can expect an overall reduction in pain compared to their pre-treatment condition.
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Our clinic operates on an out-of-network basis with all health insurance plans. Full payment for services rendered is required at the time of your appointment. While some insurance providers offer reimbursement for acupuncture treatments, we recommend consulting your specific insurance carrier for detailed coverage information. Upon request, we will gladly provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Please note that our clinic does not directly bill insurance companies on behalf of patients.