We're an acupuncture and functional medicine clinic in downtown Seattle. We've been around since 2008. Our work blends traditional Chinese medicine with modern functional medicine, and we treat everything from chronic pain and digestive issues to hormonal patterns, fertility, autoimmune conditions, and the long tail of 'something is off and no one can figure out what.' We specialize in the complex, chronic, and 'mystery' cases that other clinics often punt on.

What makes you different from other acupuncture clinics?

Three things. First, we treat the whole person, not just the symptom — every plan is customized, no cookie-cutter protocols. Second, we blend Chinese medicine with functional medicine, lab work, modern technology, and clinical reasoning that most acupuncture clinics don't do. Third, we say what we mean. We'll tell you straight up if we think we can help, if we think you'd be better served somewhere else, or if a particular intervention isn't right for you yet. We're not here to upsell you — we're here to actually fix what's going on.

Where is GoodMedizen located?

We're at 509 Olive Way, Suite 1401, in downtown Seattle, WA 98101. The Medical Dental Building, on the corner of Olive Way and 6th Ave. The primary entrance is on Olive Way next to Go Fitness and Cherry Street Coffee. Take the elevator to the 14th floor.

Yes. Every provider at GoodMedizen is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) with a Master's degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, plus extensive continuing education. We're nationally board certified and licensed by the State of Washington.

What conditions do you treat?

A lot. Pain (chronic and acute), digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, fertility, anxiety and depression, sleep problems, allergies, autoimmune conditions, fatigue, post-surgical recovery, headaches and migraines, neurological conditions, skin conditions, and the long tail of 'something is off and no one can figure out what.' Acupuncture and TCM are whole systems of medicine — we're always looking at the whole body, working on restoration of function to help your body perform the duties it's supposed to.

Do you take my insurance?

We're in-network with most major Seattle-area carriers including Premera, Regence, Aetna, Cigna, First Choice Health, Kaiser PPO, Molina, and several others. We can verify your specific benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises — text us your insurance info or fill out the form on our website and we'll run a benefits check for you.

What if you don't take my insurance?

We're preferred providers for most insurance plans in Washington State. We can still see you on a self-pay basis at our standard or member rates. If you have an FSA or HSA, you can typically use those. We can also provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan.

How much will it cost me?

It depends on your insurance plan, your deductible status, and what services you receive. We'll always run a benefits check before your first visit and tell you what to expect — copay, deductible, coinsurance, the whole picture. No surprise bills.

How do GoodMedizen memberships work?

Standard ($99/mo) is for fairly straightforward cases — member-rate acupuncture, 10% tier discount, office-visit access to your practitioner, 60-minute appointment times that include a few modalities. Premium ($179/mo) adds weekly group Q&A access for people who want more clinical guidance between visits, with a 15% discount on everything. Functional ($397/mo) is the full toolkit — monthly functional medicine visits, quarterly lab review including specialty labs, dedicated messaging access with 24-hour return, 80-minute appointments for more modality work, and 20% off acupuncture, services, and supplements. Memberships are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime.

What's the difference between a la carte and a membership?

A la carte is pay-as-you-go — you pay full rate for each visit and service. Memberships give you a monthly rate that includes longer visits, member pricing on every service and supplement, modalities included in your appointment time, and varying levels of provider access depending on tier. Memberships are designed for people who plan to use them — if you'll be in regularly, they save you significant money over a la carte.

Does acupuncture hurt?

The needles we use are very small — about the width of a strand of hair — and most people do very well with them. They are still needles, so there might be a spot here or there that's a little sharp. If something feels sharp, it should go away within a moment or two. Some points, especially in the hands, can have a deep, dull, achy quality. That ache is actually a good thing, so long as you can rest comfortably with it. Our number one goal is that you are comfortable with our treatments.

How many acupuncture sessions will I need?

What we're trying to do in the beginning is get the attention of your immune system, so we front-load treatments 2–3 times a week for typically the first 2–3 weeks. If you aren't seeing significant change by visit 3, then we dig deeper. The ultimate goal is quarterly maintenance visits — 4 times a year at season change. The goal is to limit the amount of intervention you'll ever need.

How long until I feel better from acupuncture?

Most patients notice benefit from acupuncture at their very first visit, although the first benefits noticed can be nebulous — feeling more relaxed, sleeping better, having more energy. We want to start seeing explicit change around visit 3, and significant improvement around visits 4–6. We front-load treatments to get the attention of your immune system, then slow down.

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

Yes — and incredibly helpful. Acupuncture is safe throughout pregnancy when performed by a trained practitioner, and it can help with morning sickness, back pain, sleep, anxiety, breech presentation, labor preparation, and postpartum recovery. It's often one of the only things a pregnant person can do for stubborn aches and pains, as many standard treatments and medications are contraindicated.

Can children get acupuncture?

Yes. We treat kids of all ages, including infants for things like reflux and sleep disturbances. For younger children we often use non-needle techniques (shonishin, gentle bodywork, magnets, ear seeds) that get the same effect without the needles. By age 8–10, most kids are curious about the needles and actually lead us to start using them.

Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?

Dry needling is a form of acupuncture — so all dry needling is acupuncture, but not all acupuncture is dry needling. Acupuncture is a complete medical system with upwards of 5,000 years of clinical refinement. Acupuncturists train for 3–4 years at master's or doctorate level and complete national board exams. An acupuncturist needs 2,000–4,000 hours of training to insert needles. A physical therapist can be certified to do dry needling after 50–100 hours. That's the practical difference.

What is functional medicine and how is it different from going to my regular doctor?

Conventional medicine is excellent at acute care, surgery, and managing established disease. It's less designed for the chronic, complex, multi-system stuff — the gut/hormone/inflammation/fatigue tangles where every specialist sends you to a different specialist. Functional medicine zooms out, looks at how your systems interact, and uses targeted labs and interventions to address the upstream causes. We work alongside your conventional providers, not in place of them.

How long does functional medicine take to work?

Most people start feeling shifts within 4–6 weeks of starting a personalized protocol. Bigger structural changes — restoring gut function, rebalancing hormones, healing chronic inflammation — usually take 3–6 months of consistent work. Functional medicine is iterative: we run labs, build a protocol, retest, refine. It's not a quick fix; it's a rebuild.

How do I know if I need detox?

Common signs include chronic fatigue, brain fog, unexplained inflammation, hormonal disruption, chemical sensitivity, mold exposure history, dental amalgam history, occupational exposures, autoimmune patterns that aren't responding to other care, and a long history of 'doing everything right' without feeling right. We start with a thorough intake and (when indicated) testing to figure out whether toxic burden is actually the issue.

Why doesn't GoodMedizen sell a 30-day detox kit?

Because they don't work, and some of them are dangerous. Pre-packaged detox kits don't account for your specific exposure history, your drainage capacity, your genetic detox pathways, your medication situation, or your nutrient status. They mobilize toxins without first making sure your exits are open — which is exactly how detox protocols cause harm. Real detox is individual. We don't shortcut it because we've seen what happens when people do.

How much does microneedling cost at GoodMedizen?

Microneedling at GoodMedizen is a flat $619 per session and is never discounted. Exosomes are expensive — really expensive — and they're the difference between 'okay' results and exceptional ones. Cheap microneedling without quality exosomes is a fundamentally different treatment. We don't compromise on the materials.

How many microneedling sessions will I need?

Most people see significant results from a series of 3 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart, with maintenance every 6–12 months after. Severe scarring or significant sun damage may benefit from a series of 4–6 sessions.

What should I expect at my first acupuncture visit?

Your first visit is longer than a typical follow-up — usually 75–90 minutes — because we're doing a thorough intake. We'll go through your health history, current medications and supplements, lifestyle, and what brought you in. Then we'll do a TCM diagnostic exam (pulse, tongue, palpation) and build your initial treatment plan. The treatment itself is included in this first visit.

How do I book an appointment at GoodMedizen?

Online at goodmedizen.com/schedule-now — it's the fastest way and shows real-time availability. You can also text 206-402-3813 if you'd rather book that way or have a specific timing question.

What's the fastest way to reach GoodMedizen?

Text 206-402-3813. We're a busy clinic and during clinic hours we're with patients, hands-on, often literally holding needles. We can't pick up the phone in real time — but we can absolutely respond to a text between patients. Texting is by far the fastest way to get a response from us.

Acupuncture for Anxiety in Seattle: How It Works and What to Expect

Courtney Zeller
23 hours ago
3 min read

The best acupuncture treatments for anxiety in Seattle combine traditional Chinese medicine with modern neuroscience — and the results might surprise you. At GoodMedizen in downtown Seattle, anxiety treatment is one of the most common reasons patients walk through our door.

I'm Courtney Zeller, AEMP, L.Ac., MS, a licensed acupuncturist and functional medicine practitioner. Here's what I want you to know about acupuncture for anxiety — the evidence, the experience, and the honest expectations.

The Evidence: Does Acupuncture Actually Help Anxiety?

Yes — and the research base is stronger than most people realize.

A 2018 systematic review in the journal Annals of General Psychiatry analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials and found that acupuncture produced significant reductions in anxiety compared to conventional treatment alone. A 2021 meta-analysis in the Journal of Integrative Medicine confirmed these findings across generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), pre-operative anxiety, and exam-related anxiety.

Key findings from the research:

How Acupuncture Treats Anxiety: The Science

Acupuncture for anxiety works through several evidence-based mechanisms:

Nervous system regulation: Acupuncture directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system — your "rest and digest" mode. For anxiety sufferers who are stuck in a chronic fight-or-flight state, this shift is profound. Patients frequently describe feeling a deep calm during treatment that they haven't experienced in months.

Cortisol modulation: Studies show acupuncture reduces cortisol levels, the stress hormone that drives the physical symptoms of anxiety — racing heart, tight chest, muscle tension, insomnia.

Neurotransmitter balance: Acupuncture has been shown to regulate serotonin, GABA, and norepinephrine — the same neurotransmitters targeted by anti-anxiety medications, but without the side effects.

HPA axis regulation: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the body's central stress response system. Chronic anxiety dysregulates this axis. Acupuncture helps restore normal HPA function, addressing anxiety at its neurological root.

What an Anxiety Acupuncture Session Looks Like

If you've never tried acupuncture for anxiety, here's what to expect at GoodMedizen:

Initial consultation (first visit): We start with a thorough assessment — not just your anxiety symptoms, but your full picture: sleep quality, digestion, energy patterns, menstrual cycle (if applicable), stress triggers, and what you've tried before. In Chinese medicine, anxiety isn't one-size-fits-all; your specific pattern determines your treatment.

During treatment: You'll lie comfortably in a private treatment room. The acupuncture points selected for anxiety are typically calming points on the ears, wrists, lower legs, and feet. Most patients describe the insertion as barely noticeable. Within minutes, you'll likely feel your body downshift into relaxation.

Common anxiety treatment points include:

After treatment:

Most patients leave feeling noticeably calmer, often with improved sleep that same night. The effects build with each session.

Acupuncture + Functional Medicine for Anxiety

At GoodMedizen, we don't treat anxiety with acupuncture alone. We look at the full picture:

How Many Sessions Do You Need?

For anxiety, most patients notice a shift within 3–4 sessions. A full treatment course is typically 8–12 sessions, with many patients then transitioning to maintenance visits every 2–4 weeks. Unlike medication, the goal is to retrain your nervous system — not create an ongoing dependency.

Can I do acupuncture while on anti-anxiety medication? Absolutely. Acupuncture works safely alongside medication. Many patients use acupuncture to reduce their reliance on medication over time — always in coordination with their prescribing doctor.

I'm anxious about acupuncture itself — is that normal?

Completely normal. Most first-time patients are nervous. The sessions are gentle, and the environment is designed to be calming. By the end of your first visit, the anxiety about acupuncture is usually gone.

Does insurance cover acupuncture for anxiety? Coverage varies by plan. Many Washington State insurers cover acupuncture. We can help verify your benefits before your first visit.

Take the First Step

If you're looking for acupuncture treatments for anxiety in Seattle, we'd love to help. Text us at (206) 402-3813 to schedule your first appointment, or visit goodmedizen.com to learn more about our approach.

GoodMedizen is located at 509 Olive Way, Suite 1401 in downtown Seattle's Historic Medical Dental Building.