What & How's
How does it work?
at my practice in Amsterdam
How does it work?
online session
How does it work?
out of hours availability
Chinese medicine is a medical system that has been used for thousands of years to treat and prevent diseases, composed of different methods such as acupuncture, herbal treatment, Tuina, diet Tai-qi and more.
Over the years Chinese medicine practitioners have been documenting their experiments and experiences, and today Chinese medicine practitioners can rely both on ancient and modern evidence-based texts for their treatments.
At my practice, the treatment is individual and personally sewed for each patient, consisting of acupuncture, a herbal prescription, and lifestyle change recommendations (diet, physical and breathing exercises, external applications etc.)
My clinic is dedicated exclusively to women's health and I treat a broad spectrum of conditions and pathologies with a special focus on chronic vulvar and vaginal pain:
painful menstruation
pregnancy
postpartum
What is Chinese medicine?
What do I treat?
How does it work?
In the first session, I will first ask you many questions about the reason you are reaching out to me and other issues that may influence the quality of your life, in order to get a clear picture and to be able to diagnose your condition according to Chinese medicine.
This part takes about 60 minutes, right after I will ask you to lay on the treatment bed where I will check your “Chinese” pulse and observe your tongue, these are 2 effective diagnostic methods that can confirm my conclusions from the intake, with which I can sew an individual set of acupuncture points that 'will fit you at that moment.
In the next session, I will follow up with a few more questions (much less than in the first one) and may choose a completely different set of acupuncture points.
At my practice in Amsterdam:
Acupuncture:
Is the insertion of very thin disposable needles through your skin at the selected acupuncture points.
We still don't know exactly how it works, but reviews of over 13,000 studies that have been conducted in the past 20 years prove that Chinese acupuncture is effective and not by the placebo effect (see here).
I am following distal acupuncture approaches, which means that I will usually choose points below your elbows and knees, on your skull, and around your belly button.
In some cases, I will choose points on the thighs, but this will only happen after I have tried other less invasive options and only after making sure that you are feeling completely comfortable with it.
I will NEVER suggest acupuncture in invasive intimate areas (see my blog: "The Yellow Emperor's New Clothes")
Chronic conditions differ from acute conditions and will usually require a longer treatment period with constant sessions. The number of required sessions varies and depends on many parameters, mainly:
- how long the condition had been lasting
- the condition's severity
- the patient's collaboration between sessions (lifestyle changes, taking a herbal formula, etc.)
In most chronic cases, weekly acupuncture treatment is required in the first 8-12 weeks. If the progress is constant and satisfying at the end of this period, it is possible to reduce sessions gradually.
In chronic pain cases, it is recommended to keep the consistency of the treatments in the first few months, even if the pain significantly decreases.
Arriving for 2 treatments a week will usually significantly quicken the process. If the condition's progress isn't satisfying within 3-4 sessions, I usually recommend adding a herbal formula that I prescribe for each patient according to their individual diagnosis.
The prescription is included in the treatment fee. The herbs are paid for separately, directly to the pharmacy. The cost depends on the price of the single herbs and the dose that is taken and can vary between 10-20 euros a week.
Follow-ups:
How does it work?
Online session:
Online follow-ups:
During lockdowns, I continued to support my patients only with herbs successfully, therefore, when women from other countries reached out to me, I felt confident enough to agree. The results were surprisingly very good (see my presentation of a case story here). Since then, I have been treating women from many countries around the world!
The session is performed with a secure video app that opens with a link from any mobile, tablet, or PC without downloading the app.
The initial intake lasts 90 minutes, during which I ask many questions. If there's time left, I recommend different methods that may suit the patient's condition (diet and other lifestyle changes, external treatment, etc.). When there isn't enough time during the session, I email my recommendations.
In order to be as accurate as possible, it usually takes me a few days before I decide which herbs will compose the formula. I will ask for a tongue picture to confirm my diagnosis.
The herbal formula's fee is not included and will be paid directly to the pharmacy. The cost depends on the price of the single herbs and the dose that is taken, it can vary between 10-20 euros a week.
The next appointments will be scheduled every 3 weeks to follow up on your condition and progress so I can decide if the next herbal order will be the same or modified or if I need to prescribe a new herbal formula.
An appointment is mandatory for any analysis or diagnosis, it is not possible to do it by email.
Continuity is very important for successful results, and it is the patient's responsibility to schedule follow-ups on time to receive the new herbal formula without having a long break in between.
Additional Policies:
-
In case of a cancellation of a session in the private practice, please make sure to notify us 24 hours in advance; if not, the full rate of the treatment will be charged.
-
Reimbursement options for acupuncture treatments are available through your personal insurance plan. Patients are responsible for payment upfront and may inquire with their insurance provider for possible reimbursement.
-
Herbal treatments and online consultations are not covered by the Dutch healthcare insurance companies.
-
Here you can check whether your health insurance company has a contract with the NVA association or not
How does it work?
My patient's sense of security during the process is of high importance to me after they leave my clinic as well, therefore, I dedicate one hour a day to respond to questions and concerns that may appear and cannot wait for our next appointment.
This assistance is free of charge and is possible by email from Monday to Friday. I will do my best to respond as soon as I can; time varies and depends on the number of emails I receive.
Urgent cases will get priority, please mention urgency in the email subject.
For a professional analysis or diagnosis, it is mandatory to set an appointment, it is not possible to do it by email or by message.
Out of hours availability:
What is the cost?
First appointment: 130 euros
90 minutes treatment in Orit's private clinic
A personal initial intake for diagnosis and one Acupuncture treatment
Online consultation: 150 euros
90 minutes, Initial intake, consultation & herbal prescription
Online follow-up: 95 euros
45 minutes follow up to renew a herbal prescription