Acupuncture
Columbia Health provides Acupuncture services. If you’re interested in acupuncture through Columbia Health, begin by contacting Medical Services at 212-854-7426 or making an appointment through the Patient Portal.
Acupuncture at Columbia Health
Medical Services offers acupuncture in partnership with the Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS) at no additional cost to students.
Acupuncture consists of the gentle insertion and stimulation of thin, disposable, sterile needles in strategic points near the body’s surface.
Acupuncture services are administered by PCHS interns who are supervised by a licensed acupuncturist. The first visit will include a comprehensive evaluation and may take up to one hour. Each additional session is typically one hour.
Who is eligible?
All Columbia students on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses who have paid the full-time Columbia Health and Related Services Fee are eligible to receive acupuncture services.
How do I get acupuncture at Columbia Health?
You can make an acupuncture appointment with Medical Services by calling 212-854-7426 or making an appointment in the Patient Portal.
How much will it cost?
There are no additional costs to receiving acupuncture treatment at Medical Services.
What else do I need to know?
During your first visit, the acupuncturist will typically take a complete medical history, ask questions about your primary complaint, along with other general health issues. They may also conduct a more thorough examination, such as analyzing your pulse and tongue, abdominal palpations, and facial diagnosis.
After arriving at a working diagnosis, the acupuncturist will place you in a comfortable position before inserting the needles. Once you’re comfortable, you’ll relax in the treatment room for 15 to 20 minutes, with the acupuncturist checking on you periodically.
Most health problems take more than one treatment to resolve. After four treatments, your acupuncturist will conduct another assessment or provide a referral to an outside provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acupuncture needles are much finer than the hypodermic needles frequently used for vaccination.
Some acupuncture patients are initially wary of the claim that acupuncture doesn’t hurt, but they soon discover that the experience is quite pleasurable.