About Five Element Acupuncture

In a perfect world, no one's stomach would hurt and everyone would get restful sleep every night. Instead, many people are living their lives as they push through the discomfort of digestive issues, chronic or acute pain, period cramps, auto-immune disorders, migraines, and anxiety.

Acupuncture aims to bring the whole body into balance and focus on the root cause of illness to alleviate symptoms. Five Element Acupuncture treatment uses (very small!) needles to restore this balance of energy—or qi—in the body according to the principles of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.

When energy in the body is flowing freely, the symptoms go away—along with the cause of those symptoms. I've seen Five Element Acupuncture do some amazing things, and I can't wait to dedicate the rest of my life to sharing this medicine with those who need it.

Come see me in Prospect Heights!

Inner Yin, Prospect Heights

I'm very excited to be part of the Inner Yin team treating on Mondays and Wednesdays, with more availability opening up this summer.

Book your appointment online here.

Intake $175

Follow-up $150

(Some insurance plans accepted!)

What to expect

Intake Treatment

This is your first treatment with me, and will be around an hour and 30 minutes. We will talk about your health systems, medical history, and goals, followed by a physical exam and an acupuncture treatment.

Follow-up Treatment

Typically one hour, and for anyone who has already had an intake appointment. We will continue to work together to meet your treatment goals.

Gianna Masi, L.Ac

Gianna received her Masters of Acupuncture from The Academy for Five Element Acupuncture and her BA from Stanford University. She is continually amazed by acupuncture's capacity to work at the physical, mental, and emotional levels of health. She strives to make her treatment room a safe space for authentic connection, warmth, and collaborative healing.

Gianna is an NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturist.

"More often than not, the things we need are there already; all we have to do is make use of them."

-The Tao of Pooh

Not sure? Have questions? Let's talk about it.

Send me an email at gianna@hearthacupuncturebk.com. We can chat there or set up a (free!) call.

Still here? How about some FAQs?

How long does it take for acupuncture to work?

Short answer? It depends. Long answer: I typically like to see patients for 3-5 treatments to start. Often patients will feel some sort of shift or benefit after the first treatment, even something as simple as a good night's sleep, pain improvement, or less anxiety. In some cases—perhaps with longstanding or intractable symptoms—it can take longer for acupuncture to do its thing.

Some people find that acupuncture is most beneficial if they are going once a week. Others like to come in monthly or seasonally for overall health and maintenance. It all depends on your goals, which is a conversation we will have during the first appointment and in the sessions that follow.

Do you take insurance?

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are covered at Inner Yin. For more information, you can head to this page.

If your insurance plan covers acupuncture out-of-network, we can give you a superbill to submit for reimbursement. We also accept FSA and HSA.

What if I'm afraid of needles?

Acupuncture needles are very skinny. So skinny that often you can't feel the needle going in. We're talking the width of two hairs; that's how thin these needles are. Some points may hurt a little upon insertion, but acupuncture shouldn't feel *anything* like getting blood drawn or a shot at the doctor. Five Element Acupuncture in particular uses a very gentle needling technique, and many find treatment to be relaxing (sometimes even sleep-inducing!).

What is ear acupuncture?

Auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) has been around for centuries, and there are over 200 acupuncture points in the ear. One popular set of points is called the NADA protocol, in which five needles are inserted in each ear and left for up to 45 minutes—the combination of these points promotes balance in the body and can help with stress, sleep issues, and cravings. Many patients find this treatment, usually done in a group setting, to be calming and relaxing. The NADA protocol was developed in the 1970s and has most famously been used in the treatment of addiction, as well as in disaster relief settings by Acupuncturists Without Borders. You can learn more about the fascinating history of this protocol (it started in New York!) here.

Page updated

Report abuse