About us

Crossroads Community Acupuncture is a social enterprise committed to breaking barriers to health care in the border region.  We promote acupuncture as a cost-effective health care option for everyday people of all income levels.  We do this through establishing community based service centers, and though training and supporting public health programs that are offering acupuncture.  We have a network of established providers here in the region that offer treatments across a continuum of care, including homeless services, detoxification, domestic violence groups, pastoral care, as well as outpatient mental health, addictions, and veterans care.

We make every effort to make acupuncture affordable.  Our sliding scale system and our monthly memberships are designed to allow you to come as often as you need to for your health needs.  We also have special programs for Mi Via Program and Access to Recovery participants in New Mexico.  In addition, our staff provides treatments for military soldiers/veterans at Tesoro Center’s veteran’s program, which is a TRICARE  vendor.  Call us if you have questions about these special programs.  575 312 6569

Please take the time to download and read through our Welcome Letter, which has specific information about how our clinic works and what to expect as a patient at Crossroads.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have listed below some answers to frequently asked questions about acupuncture, and we recommend also clicking here to read excerpts from “Why did you put the needle there?”, by Community Acupuncturist, Andrew Wegman.

What is Acupuncture?

“Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most common and dependable medical therapies used in the world. It is by nature simple, safe and effective health care. Acupuncturists use thin, sterile disposable needles inserted superficially into specific areas of the body in order to help the body’s ability to heal itself. Over the three decades or so in which acupuncture has developed in the U.S., it has been proven to be not only exceptionally safe when performed by licensed acupuncturists, but statistically effective in an increasing body of scientific studies.”  Source: Andrew Wegman, Why did you put the needle there?

What is ear acupuncture?

Ear acupuncture is perhaps the most prevalent model of care in mainstream health settings.  Crossroads follows the NADA(National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol as an ear acupuncture modality.  Through our training program, we teach health providers how to set up their own services.  Please visit our ear acupuncture page so you can read articles on Acutake, and find more resources on ear acupuncture.

Does acupuncture work? 

Please take the time to read some of the testimonies written by people who have been treated at Crossroads Community Acupuncture, hear from them how acupuncture has worked for them:  http://crossroadsacupuncture.com/testimonies/  If you scroll down on this page, below you’ll find some links to endorsements on what they say acupuncture “works” for from the World Health Organization, the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs and Department of Defense, and the US National Institute of Health.

What is Community Acupuncture?

Crossroads is modeled after over 200 network Community Acupuncture clinics in the United States.  We want everyday people in the Las Cruces region to be able to receive acupuncture frequently and comfortably, at a cost that is practical, and we do this in several ways:

–sliding scale fees $16-$41, pay what you can

–no need to bring proof of low income

–walk ins welcome

–family members or friends are welcome to come with you to your appointment

–no disrobing necessary, distal points will be selected on the arm, the lower leg and the head

–bilingual English/Spanish acupuncturists

Why does Crossroads treat in a group setting?

Most US acupuncturists treat each patient on a table in a private room. At Crossroads Community Acupuncture, however, acupuncture treatments are given in a group setting, as is customary in Asia. In our clinic we group recliners in an open, shared space. Treating patients in a community setting has many benefits: it’s easy for friends and family to come in for treatment together and sharing the healing experience makes individual treatments more powerful. Our style of acupuncture treats patients in recliners, allowing them to rest with their needles for an extended period of time. The “right” amount of time varies from patient to patient. Most people learn after a few treatments when they feel “done,” whether this is twenty minutes or an hour. Many people fall asleep and wake feeling refreshed.

What´s up with the  sliding scale system?

We don’t believe acupuncture should be a luxury, and we want people of ordinary incomes to be able to access our services.  Our $16-$41 sliding scale system is designed to make our services affordable for the working class of the Las Cruces area, many of whom would otherwise not be able to not pay the going rates of acupuncturists.  Our ear acupuncture clinic  is even more affordable, we offer treatments for $5-$30 sliding scale.  You decide what you can afford to pay.

We also realize that in most communities on both sides of the border, there are few acupuncturists at all.  CCA is committed to empowering regional partner groups to establish their own low cost and free clinics in low income border communities and colonias.  We want the Las Cruces community to be able to support their efforts.

Most Community Acupuncture clinics charge around $15-$40 per treatment.  Crossroads charges one dollar more in our sliding scale ($16-$41), and we will invest this extra $1 out of every treatment into the expansion of free clinics that currently provide services within impoverished border communities.  (click here to learn more about the Crossroads Border Project)

What illnesses can acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for many common illnesses.  Many people seek acupuncture treatment for alleviating pain and for managing long term chronic physical and psychological illnesses related to stress.  Others make it part of their weekly or monthly routine just to relax, rest, and recuperate from their busy and stressful lives.

Acupuncture is not a cure for any one single disease, however many authoritative international and US health institutions have endorsed the value of acupuncture for treating a wide range of specific physical and psychological conditions.  These include body pain and headaches as well conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, menstrual problems, depression, hypertension and nausea and vomiting for morning sickness as well as patients receiving chemotherapy.  Below we have excerpted a few of these endorsements:

National Institute of Health

“Promising results have emerged, for example, [demonstrating the] efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful.”    Source:  NIH Consensus Statement (1997)

US Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense

¨Research focusing on the efficacy of acupuncture (for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)) is still relatively limited. The few available studies are well done and demonstrate significant improvement in both PTSD and PTSD-associated symptomatology. A larger numbers of studies exist, concluding acupuncture’s efficacy in pain management, insomnia, depression, and substance abuse.¨   Source:  VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress (2010) Downloaded 26 Feb 2012 from http://www.healthquality.va.gov/Post_Traumatic_Stress_Disorder_PTSD.asp

World Health Organization

In 2003, the World Health Organization published a review of clinical trials on acupuncture for various illnesses, and concluded that over 100 diseases and disorders that acupuncture could be used to treat.  These included depression, allergic rhinitis, Diabetes Mellitis, asthma, headache, low back pain, insomnia, osteoarthritis, hypertension, sore throat and many more.  Here is the link to the WHO endorsement of acupuncture:  http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s4926e/s4926e.pdf

Herbal medicine

Acupuncture is our clinic’s first line of treatment. Depending on the condition you are seeking treatment for, however, it may be recommended that you try Chinese herbal medicine. This can enhance the effects of acupuncture, leading to quicker and more sustaining results. For particular conditions such as digestive disorders, infertility, menstrual problems, menopausal symptoms, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, insomnia, common cold or headaches, herbs may be recommended.

During your initial acupuncture visit or in follow-up visits we may suggest that you try herbs. Chinese herbal medicine is safe and natural. The herbs used at our clinic are tested numerous times for safety. We offer a line of herbs processed into a pill-tablet form that is easy to take. We also offer topical analgesic pain relieving linaments and oils, as well as herbal cough syrup.  Formulas are designed to meet your body’s particular needs and should not cause side effects. Most of the time herbs can be used alongside western medications, however, there are certain cases when they should not. The utmost care will be used in prescribing herbs for you.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Pricing

Patent Chinese Herbs: $9-$14 for a 1-3 Week Supply

We also offer individualized herbal formulas, which vary in price.  For an herbal consultation, you need to schedule an appointment.

Crossroads Staff

Click here to meet our acupuncturists and auricular specialists…