831-401-5141
Neuroscience-Informed Acupuncture & Integrative Care in Santa Cruz
Evidence-based acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and microneedling for pain, injury recovery, metabolic health, and skin rejuvenation.
Now accepting Medi-Cal!
Electroacupuncture
in Santa Cruz
Electroacupuncture is one of the most researched forms of acupuncture — and it's the centerpiece of how this clinic treats stubborn pain and nerve-related conditions. By passing a gentle, precisely controlled electrical current between acupuncture needles, we can stimulate nerves and muscle tissue more consistently and measurably than manual needling alone. Dr. Ava Zack's practice is specifically built around neuroscience-informed electroacupuncture for nervous system regulation, neuromodulation, and functional recovery.
What Is Electroacupuncture?
After needles are placed, small clips connect selected pairs of needles to a device that delivers a mild current. You feel a gentle tapping or thrumming — never sharp or painful — and the intensity is always adjusted to your comfort. Different frequencies produce different physiological effects: lower frequencies are associated with endorphin release and pain relief, while other settings target muscle re-education, circulation, or nerve stimulation. This frequency-specific dosing is part of what makes electroacupuncture more like a precise medical intervention than a spa treatment.
Conditions Electroacupuncture Treats Well
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Chronic low back pain and sciatica
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Muscle weakness or atrophy after injury or surgery
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Tendinopathies and sports injuries
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and other persistent pain states
Electroacupuncture vs. a TENS Unit
Patients often ask how this differs from the TENS device their physical therapist uses. A TENS unit stimulates through the surface of the skin; electroacupuncture delivers current directly to the target tissue — muscle, motor points, or near affected nerves — through the needles. That allows much more specific, deeper stimulation at lower intensities. The two can be complementary, and Dr. Zack regularly coordinates care with physical therapists. (See also: dry needling, which targets trigger points and pairs well with e-stim.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the electrical current hurt? No. It's adjusted to a comfortable tapping sensation, and you control the ceiling — we never go beyond what feels mild.
Is electroacupuncture safe? Yes, for most patients. It's avoided or modified for people with pacemakers or certain implanted devices, and during some stages of pregnancy — all screened at intake.
Is it included in the regular visit price? Yes. Electroacupuncture is included in initial consultations ($175) and follow-ups ($125) when clinically appropriate — there's no upcharge.