Acupuncture, the practice of physical treatment by placing small needles at specific points in the body, is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. While it is sometimes met with skepticism by Western medicine, it has been a pillar of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. In recent decades, Western medicine has begun recognizing acupuncture’s healing applications, especially for various forms of inflammation. The treatment is frequently sought for physical therapy recovery, fertility support and immune support.
One local acupuncture practitioner, Annie Van Druten, MS, offers a monthly option that more closely resembles contemporary Chinese acupuncture. In the community model, multiple clients are treated simultaneously to help mitigate cost. Van Druten preserves privacy by conducting a private intake session for each person. This consists of a short interview about the patient’s symptoms or desired healing. Once intake has been completed for each member of the group, needles are administered based on individual needs. As with private acupuncture, needles are left in place for 20-30 minutes per assessment and patient needs.
The community acupuncture model has been practiced in the United States since the 1970s, according to Van Druten. She encountered it early in her career and values the way it increases accessibility to healthcare and healing. She is able to offer community acupuncture sessions with a sliding cost scale of $60-80 per initial visit and $50-70 for returning patients. The fees are less than half the cost of a one-hour private session, which runs $175 for the initial visit and $150 per follow up treatments.
Van Druten offers monthly community acupuncture days because she wants to preserve accessible healthcare for community members regardless of their income. “I understand the importance of having access to holistic healthcare for all demographics,” she said while sharing about the offering. These sessions require scheduling like a private appointment, but folks can call to sign up between 11am and 5pm the third Wednesday of each month. Van Druten’s upcoming community days are June 18, July 16 and Aug. 20.
Clients visiting Van Druten for the first time are able to fill out intake forms online ahead of sessions to maximize treatment time. Initial acupuncture sessions generally take 75 minutes instead of 60, accounting for the assessment. These introductory appointments also include a one-time $10 consultation fee.
Van Druten has been practicing acupuncture for 16 years — 11 of those years in the Roaring Fork Valley. Her practice, Colorado Community Acupuncture, is located on Village Road in Carbondale, just off Highway 133 across from Gianinetti Park.
In conversation with The Sopris Sun, Van Druten expressed interest in expanding her community acupuncture program across language barriers as well. Though she does not speak Spanish, she has repeat clients with whom she uses language translation apps to provide treatment if they are less comfortable with English. While she acknowledges that the translation process is time-consuming, it has worked well for existing clients. She said she is looking into additional ways to mitigate language challenges to increase the accessibility of the offering.
Van Druten’s private practice includes additional traditional healing treatments. Individual appointments integrate acupuncture with cupping (where heated glass cups are used to stimulate blood flow, typically on the back), gua sha (a blood flow and fascia treatment with a smooth-edged tool or stone across the skin) and cosmetic acupuncture and microneedling for improving skin definition. Other offerings include specific acupuncture treatment regimens for fertility and weight loss, for which Van Druten recommends sessions once to twice a week for three months.
Van Druten also offers health coaching services online to guide patients in optimizing their wellbeing. The three-month program targets individual patient needs from acne to thyroid issues to liver support. “I love what I do,” she said, emphasizing that she values offering clients alternatives to medication regimens. “It fills me up to be in service to others and to offer tailored healthcare without the use of medications.”
To learn more about Van Druten’s health offerings, you can visit www.cocommunityacupuncture.com. To schedule a community or private acupuncture session, call 970-963-2150. Intake forms will then be sent by email.