Restore Balance. Reclaim Your Health.

At Nola Family Acupuncture, we know that exploring acupuncture or root cause medicine for the first time may feel unfamiliar. This page is here to answer your questions and provide clarity, so you can feel confident and prepared as you take the next step on your health journey with us.

Restore Balance. Reclaim Your Health

At Nola Family Acupuncture, we guide patients through a clear and thoughtful process designed to uncover the root causes of symptoms and restore balance over time. Below is an overview of what you can expect when beginning care with us.

Our Approach to Healing

At Nola Family Acupuncture, we believe the body has an incredible capacity to heal when the underlying imbalances are properly identified and supported.

Our approach focuses on three essential foundations of healing: correcting nutritional deficiencies, removing obstacles that interfere with the body’s natural healing processes, and regulating the nervous system so the body can move out of survival mode and begin restoring balance.

We combine acupuncture, targeted nutritional therapy, and functional insight to uncover the root patterns behind your symptoms rather than simply suppressing them.

Whether you’re experiencing pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, or chronic stress, we begin with a thorough evaluation and guide you through a structured process designed to restore balance and help you feel like yourself again.

Your First Visit

Your first visit is designed to help us understand the full picture of your health so we can begin identifying the underlying patterns contributing to your symptoms.

During this appointment we will:

  • Review your health history in detail
  • Discuss your current symptoms and health goals
  • Perform an AcuGraph Meridian Assessment to evaluate the balance of your acupuncture meridians
  • Begin your first acupuncture treatment

The AcuGraph assessment provides helpful insight into how your body is functioning and often reveals patterns related to stress, hormonal balance, digestion, and energy levels.

This visit allows us to gather the information needed to begin understanding the deeper imbalances affecting your health.

Your Review of Findings

At your second visit, we take the time to review the findings from your initial evaluation and discuss a personalized plan for moving forward.

During this visit we will:

  • Review the results of your AcuGraph assessment
  • Discuss the patterns contributing to your symptoms
  • Introduce your personalized care recommendations

For many patients, this includes a combination of acupuncture and targeted nutritional therapy designed to support the body’s ability to heal and restore balance.

This step ensures that your care is thoughtful, personalized, and focused on addressing the root causes of your symptoms.

Corrective Care: The Most Common Starting Point

For many patients, meaningful and lasting improvement requires more than occasional treatment.

Corrective Care is designed to support the body through a period of consistent care so deeper imbalances can begin to normalize.

Corrective care allows us to address healing from multiple angles, regulating the nervous system through acupuncture while supporting the body biochemically through targeted nutritional therapy.

Most patients begin with weekly acupuncture treatments for the first 6–8 weeks, followed by treatments every other week for several additional visits as the body stabilizes.

During this time, we often incorporate nutritional therapy visits every 3–4 weeks to help identify and correct underlying nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to symptoms.

This initial phase of care typically unfolds over approximately four to five months, allowing the body the time and consistency it needs to move out of survival mode and begin restoring balance.

For many patients, this period of focused care leads to significant improvement. Some patients then transition to a maintenance plan to help support long-term balance and prevent symptoms from returning.

How Nutritional Therapy Supports Healing

In addition to acupuncture, many patients benefit from targeted nutritional therapy designed to address underlying nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to their symptoms.

Correcting these deficiencies often plays an important role in supporting the body’s ability to heal and respond more effectively to acupuncture care.

At Nola Family Acupuncture, we use a clinical assessment tool called the Nutritional Deficiency Screening (NDS) to evaluate symptom patterns that may indicate specific nutrient needs.

Based on this assessment, we may recommend whole-food based nutritional supplements, herbal formulas, or simple dietary adjustments to help restore balance and support optimal function.

Nutritional visits are typically scheduled every 3–4 weeks during the corrective phase of care. This allows us to track progress, review changes in symptoms, and make thoughtful adjustments to your plan as your health improves.

Over time, many patients find that correcting key nutrient deficiencies helps support energy levels, hormone balance, digestion, immune function, and overall resilience.

Maintenance Care

Once your health has stabilized and your symptoms have improved, many patients choose to continue care on a maintenance basis.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, symptoms are viewed as signals that the body has fallen out of balance. When the body is balanced and functioning well, symptoms tend to resolve and overall health is naturally supported.

Maintenance acupuncture helps support this balance over time. Regular treatments can help the body adapt to stress, maintain healthy nervous system function, and prevent old patterns from returning.

For individuals managing chronic conditions, maintenance care may also help slow progression and support long-term resilience.

Depending on your needs, maintenance care may include monthly or twice-monthly acupuncture treatments, along with quarterly nutritional visits, to help ensure your health continues moving in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people exploring acupuncture for the first time have questions about how treatment works and what to expect. The answers below address some of the most common topics that come up when beginning care.

Because acupuncture works cumulatively, it is typically most effective when received as part of a series of treatments rather than a single visit.

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body to promote healing and restore proper physiological function.

Using very thin, sterile needles placed at carefully selected points, acupuncture helps regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and support the body’s natural ability to restore balance.

Many patients experience benefits such as reduced pain, improved sleep, better digestion, balanced hormones, and increased overall well-being.

Acupuncture can support a wide range of health concerns by helping the body restore balance and regulate key systems such as the nervous system, immune system, hormones, and circulation.

Many patients seek acupuncture for issues such as chronic pain, digestive problems, hormonal imbalance, fatigue, stress, sleep difficulties, and fertility support.

While every person responds differently, many patients experience steady improvement over the course of a treatment series as the body begins to rebalance and heal.

In many cases, yes. Many patients come to us with chronic or long-standing conditions, and combining acupuncture with targeted nutritional supplements or herbal support often produces faster and more lasting results.

Acupuncture helps regulate the body during each treatment, while supplements and herbs provide daily support to help correct deficiencies and support healing between visits.

Recommendations are always tailored to your individual needs and health goals.

The number of treatments varies depending on the nature of your condition and your health goals.

For many patients, we begin with a period of corrective care that includes weekly acupuncture treatments for the first several weeks, followed by treatments every other week as the body begins to stabilize.

This phase of care often unfolds over approximately four to five months and allows the body the time and consistency it needs to restore balance.

Once symptoms improve, many patients transition to maintenance care with occasional treatments to help maintain their results and support long-term health.

New patient appointments typically last about 90 minutes, as we take time to review your health history, perform assessments, and provide your first acupuncture treatment.

Follow-up visits are usually about 60 minutes, with approximately 30 minutes spent resting with the acupuncture needles in place.

Please arrive on time with your intake forms completed so we can make the most of your appointment time.

It’s best to eat a light meal beforehand rather than arriving on an empty stomach. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, as many acupuncture points are located between the elbows and hands or the knees and feet.

We also ask that you avoid wearing fragrances, as many patients are sensitive to scents.

Some patients notice changes after their first treatment, while others begin to experience improvement after a few visits.

Because acupuncture works cumulatively, many patients begin to notice meaningful progress after several treatments as the body gradually restores balance.

Acupuncture is very safe when performed by a trained and licensed practitioner. Most patients feel deeply relaxed during and after their treatment and report positive effects such as better sleep, improved mood, increased energy, and reduced pain.

Your first visit is $250, which includes a comprehensive health history review, AcuGraph assessment, and acupuncture treatment.

During your Review of Findings visit, we will discuss personalized recommendations for care based on your goals and health needs.

Most insurance plans in Louisiana do not currently cover acupuncture, although some federal plans may offer limited coverage.

If your plan provides reimbursement for acupuncture, you would pay at the time of service and we will provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

A Holistic Approach to Balance And Lasting Health

Chinese medicine has been practiced for thousands of years as a holistic and comprehensive approach to care that treats the whole person rather than just the symptoms. By addressing the root causes of discomfort or disease, it balances the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of the body. This natural, time-tested practice helps alleviate pain, reduce stress, and restore hormonal balance, offering a path to lasting health and well-being.

  • 1
    Root/ Branch Principle
  • 2
    Holism Principle
  • 3
    Excess/ Deficiency Principle
  • 4
    Principle of Yin/ Yang
  • 5
    Balance Emotional Body
  • 6
    Order of Healing

Our Clinic Address

Nola Family Acupuncture
3399 W Esplanade Ave. S
Suite B Metairie, LA 70003

Fiorella T.
20:39 11 Jan 24
I can not speak highly enough of Erin and her knowledge and expertise! Not only is acupuncture amazing - literally taking away a 3 day migraine - but her expansive knowledge and tools at her disposal allows her to pinpoint what is going on with your body and treat accordingly. She takes the time necessary with each patient so you always feel well taken care of. Seriously, whenever I or any of my kids come down with something, I don’t go to doctors, I go see Erin!
Carl Arredondo I.
20:55 07 Aug 20
After injuring my back for years during exercise and simple everyday movements, it usually takes a week to be able to walk normal and without being stiff. Recently, it wasn't happening in 7 days so I went to NOLA Family Acupuncture. After first visit, I noticed my back muscles relaxed, but still felt discomfort on the spine. After second visit along with Back Support CR pills, my back felt great. I was able to resume my normal Crossfit workouts. I am excited to continue future sessions.
Caitlyn W.
20:29 16 Jan 20
Megan is such a good acupuncturist! I have seen her for my shoulder pain and she has helped with lower my pain and increasing my range of motion. I love that she uses different modalities, as well as acupuncture. She has used Estim, scraping and cupping as well as needles!
April D.
22:25 13 Dec 19
Very compassionate, Erin goes out of her way to make you feel comfortable and always leaves the lines of communication open. She is the best!
Veronica L.
19:49 07 Oct 19
Erin is incredibly knowledgeable and not only can she speak to you about any physical pain your are having but also other ailments within the body too. She is kind, very nice to talk to and will make you feel comfortable. The space is welcoming and cozy as well. She also has a ton of different vitamins and supplements to suit many needs. Go to her, you won’t be disappointed!
Main R.
20:29 09 Mar 19
I’ve been a patient/client for several years now, my primary treatments are for pain management and overall well being. During these years I’ve experienced amazing results that have allowed me to benefit not only physically but emotionally and spiritually as well.Erin’s understanding of the connectedness of the body, spirt and mind and how to treat it has served me (and those around me) more than I can state in a google review.Marc
Jeannie M.
22:06 20 Jan 18
Been having low back and hip pain for several years. My doctor recently stopped my anti inflammatory medications due to new information that these meds could be harmful. A friend of mine recommended that I make an appointment to see Erin, since Erin had helped my friend out so much.From the moment I met Erin, I felt totally at ease with her. She took her time with me, asking me lots of questions about my health and putting my anxieties at ease about the acupuncture process (I had never had this done before). She started me on a holistic regiment of supplements and topical cream that have helped me tremendously! Between the acupuncture and the supplements, my pain level has been minimal. No need for any prescription meds. Thank you, Erin, for your incredible knowledge of your practice and supplements, your professional and welcoming approach, and the kindness you exhibit. You are an asset to our community!
Julie S.
23:52 16 Jan 17
Thank you, Erin, for making me feel like myself again. The realistic wellness plans really work. I've been to countless MD's, specialists, nutritionists, and acupuncturists, and got no help. I've spent years looking for relief for my condition. Within a week of following Erin's nutrition advice and supplement plan, I feel ten years younger. I look younger! I have energy and a new hopeful outlook. My pain has subsided. I've even lost a few pounds! Erin's superior knowledge is empowering!This is real healing!