Jeff Rippey

Acupuncturist

1011 E St Maartens Drive A St Joseph MO, 64506 Show map

About
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About

I'm a nationally board certified and state licensed doctor of acupuncture. I run a solo clinic in St. Joseph, MO. I specialize primarily in pain management, but also work with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and digestive disorders. I work across the spectrum of pain, from acute injury to neuropathy - any type pain, at any location on the body, for any reason.

Education and Training

Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine M.S. Acupuncture 2016

PCHS D.Ac. 2020

Board Certification

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Provider Details

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Jeff Rippey

Why It's Hard To Tell Patients Where Needles Might Be Placed
I've been answering questions on this site for a couple of years now. There's been a recent trend towards acupressure questions which I addressed in my first blog post. Generally, though, I've noticed that questions tend to fall into a few buckets:...
Why It's Difficult to Answer Acupressure/Pressure Point Questions
As part of this site, patients have the capability of asking questions of practitioners and subject matter experts. Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of questions that take the form, “Please tell me x pressure point for treating y health condition”. I generally try to help these folks understand...

Can acupuncture really help with hair loss?
I've seen some studies showing acupuncture being effective in hair loss. Cosmetic acupuncture is not an area I work in personally, so I can't provide any first hand experience. I'd suggest looking for a certified acupuncturist who has either worked with hair loss or does a lot of cosmetic work. READ MORE
Are acupressure and acupuncture the same?
Acupressure and acupuncture are sort of the same thing. Acupressure is using the fingers or an instrument to apply pressure at an acupuncture point. Acupuncture is using a needle to stimulate an acupuncture point. They can be done at the same time. Most acupuncturists are trained in a system of Chinese therapeutic massage called Tui Na. Part of the system is the application of pressure to acupuncture points using the fingers/hands/arms. Many practitioners will start or end an acupuncture session with a brisk massage that stimulates certain points. We also often show patients how to apply pressure to certain points so they can perform a degree of self care between visits. In my experience, acupressure can be a useful tool, but for faster, more lasting results, nothing seems to beat needles. READ MORE
How long does acupuncture treatment usually last?
It's hard to say how many treatments might be required. Different people respond in different ways, different practitioners have different approaches to the same problem. There are a lot of variables in play. Generally, for pain/headache, I tell folks they're looking at 5-7 treatments. After that, we generally start spacing things out until we hit some optimal interval that leaves the patient with sufficient relief. I've had patients with intervals as long as every 6 months and as short as monthly. The idea is that we find some space where the patient doesn't have to come weekly. If the practitioner you're thinking of seeing offers a free consult, I highly recommend starting there. This will give you a chance to feel the person out and see if it's a good match. At some point, the practitioner should be asking about your expectations and giving you some idea of how previous patients with your issue have fared under their care. READ MORE
Is there a cure for acute arthritis in acupuncture?
Acupuncture can absolutely help with pain and mobility issues due to arthritis. You may not feel a huge difference on the first treatment, but if you give the acupuncturist 3-5 visits, they can probably reduce your discomfort and improve mobility. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help treat thyroid imbalance?
As a supplement, absolutely. Just be careful if your acupuncturist suggests herbs and you're already taking pharmaceuticals. Most of the time, herbs and pharmaceuticals mix okay, sometimes they don't. If you're taking prescription meds, make sure to bring a list that includes drug name, strength, and dose so your acupuncturist is aware. Best regards, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
I have a migraine problem. Should I see an acupuncturist?
One of the things acupuncture has been fairly well proven to help is pain, including headache/migraine. It's definitely worth giving acupuncture a try. READ MORE
Does acupuncture work for anxiety?
Yes, acupuncture is excellent for anxiety. Probably 30%-40% of my practice consists of treating anxiety/PTSD/depression and I usually get great results for folks. READ MORE
I am having a lot of stress due to menopause and I am unable to sleep soundly. Should I go for acupuncture treatment?
Yes, acupuncture will probably help you. Acupuncture and oriental medicine are good, in general, for a wide variety of conditions. There are, however, a few places where acupuncture really shines and you're asking about 2 of them: stress and insomnia/sleeplessness. Multiple studies have shown acupuncture to be superior to most drug therapies for insomnia. When it comes to stress management, there are some things you can do on your own: exercise and meditation. Adding acupuncture to those approaches will often calm things down pretty quickly. Menopause is also something acupuncturists often help folks manage - particularly hot flashes/night sweats. Best, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
Can accupuncture help in bringing down my cholesterol?
First off, I'd encourage you to look into the current research around dietary fat, cholesterol and heart disease. This subject is a tangled mess and it's always a good idea to read through the available information to form your own opinion. That being said, diet modification combined with exercise are often more effective in reducing LDL cholesterol. What acupuncture can do is help reduce the body inflammation which is likely the source of your elevated LDL levels. READ MORE
I have headaches frequently. Can acupuncture treatment help?
Absolutely! Acupuncture is excellent for relieving headache and reducing headache/migraine occurrence. In oriental medicine, we have about 5 different causes of headache. Your practitioner will need to differentiate among these to arrive at the proper treatment. Don't be surprised if they ask you a lot of questions regarding headache location, how they start, how they progress and what they feel like to you. Best, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
How long does the effect of acupuncture last?
The length of time acupuncture effects can persist varies from patient to patient. Sometimes we can get complete remission of an issue and sometimes there's a transition to maintenance that has to occur. The maintenance window can vary from weeks to months to years - there really isn't any good way to predict what maintenance is going to look like for any given individual. The good news is you received what sounds like excellent results and those results persisted for somewhere around 2 years. You might need a few sessions in a row to reestablish a healthy pattern for you and then you could probably go to twice a year or yearly "tune ups" to maintain. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help in treating joint pain?
Yes, acupuncture can be quite effective in the treatment of joint pain. There is a dose dependency in play; sometimes we hit the nail on the head and get great results on the first treatment. Other times it can take a few visits to get things moving in the correct direction. Most acupuncturists are pretty good at estimating what a course of treatment might look like, so don't be afraid to have this conversation with your provider. If you've had any imaging (X-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.) make sure you bring those results along to your first appointment. An acupuncturist is going to diagnose from the perspective of Chinese medicine, but having that information available can often help them figure out a treatment approach. READ MORE
Does acupuncture help in weight loss?
In my experience, using acupuncture for weight loss really only works when the patient can get their diet right. By "right," I mean the diet should be in alignment with principles of Chinese medicine for the patient's particular presentation. There are lots of reasons why a person might find it difficult to lose weight. Those reasons all have a corresponding diagnosis in the Chinese medical system, and there are dietary adjustments that can be made as part of the treatment plan to remedy the situation. If those dietary changes are made and acupuncture is used to support the body as a whole, then yes, it can work quite well. Best, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
Does it hurt when acupuncture needles are inserted in the body?
The best answer to your question is "it depends." The average acupuncture needle is many times smaller than the average hypodermic (like for a flu shot), so any discomfort will be much less than for an injection or a blood draw. Some acupuncture points can be fairly sensitive no matter how good the acupuncturist is. If a patient has been in chronic pain for a long period of time, sometimes any amount of pressure anywhere is painful. Even though some will claim it, no one can guarantee a pain-free needle insertion. Here's what you could reasonably expect: There may be a pinching sensation on initial insertion. This should go away in a second or two. If the needle is inserted and a sharp, stinging sensation persists, you should tell your acupuncturist. They can often back the needle out a bit or re-position slightly so the sensation subsides or goes away entirely. Feeling a dull ache, short-lived electrical sensation, or distention around the point after the needle is inserted is a good thing. We call it "de qi" and it means we're in the right spot for treatment. That being said, *most* of the time, with *most* patients, needle insertion is painless. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help in treating vertigo?
Yes, acupuncture can usually help with vertigo. I've gotten good results in more than a few cases. Best, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
Is it true that people suffering from high blood pressure should not try acupuncture?
Acupuncture is actually an excellent treatment for hypertension. Most studies show that it can at least match pharmaceuticals in terms of its BP-lowering effects. The only time there *might* be an issue is if you have a fear of needles or anxiety about acupuncture in general. Make sure you've discussed any concerns with your acupuncturist prior to treatment. So long as your blood pressure is currently controlled, and your acupuncturist is aware of your hypertensive status and is checking your blood pressure before treatment, you should be just fine. Since acupuncture can lower blood pressure, when your treatment is over and the needles have been removed, get up slowly and allow yourself time to adjust. In terms of side effects, you might see some lowering of your blood pressure over time. This, in combination with any pharmaceuticals you may be taking, could lead to some hypotension (lower than normal blood pressure). You'll be most likely to notice lowered blood pressure when going from seated or laying to standing (orthostatic hypotension). This type of hypotension is often associated with some dizziness, so move slowly and make sure there's something nearby you can grab for support if necessary. It's also a good idea to make sure your primary care physician is aware you're getting acupuncture so they can work with you to adjust medication dosage when appropriate. Best of luck! Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
I feel very sleepy after my acupuncture session. Is this normal?
Unfortunately, this is an "it depends" answer. Without knowing your Chinese medical diagnosis and what points your provider is using, it can be difficult to evaluate what's going on post-treatment. Generally speaking, some fatigue/sleepiness after a treatment is normal. Acupuncture treatments can be very relaxing and sometimes it's difficult to pull yourself out so you can complete your day. A few things you might try: 1. Have a little something to eat either right before or just after your acupuncture treatment 2. Set your appointment for later in the day so you're not returning to work or other activities while still feeling the effects 3. Talk to your acupuncture provider and see if this is something they expect or if they have specific suggestions to manage the sleepiness Best regards, Jeff Rippey, M.S. Ac., Dipl Ac. (NCCAOM), L.Ac. READ MORE
How does acupuncture treat indigestion?
Acupuncture works quite well for digestive complaints. However, I'd suggest he start with either an elimination diet or some food allergy testing. The big three in terms of food sensitivity are: eggs, milk and, wheat. I offer a dried blood spot test that looks at 90+ food components and can help folks refactor their diet to something easier on their system. Best regards, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
Is acupuncture a complementary treatment or does it treat ailments by itself?
I think the best answer here is: it depends. For a good many health issues, acupuncture can be a stand-alone treatment. For some things, like cancer, acupuncture is better as a complementary or integrative treatment along with other interventions. In general, acupuncture pairs well with lots of other treatment options. We're not using drugs, and acupuncture needles are solid, not hollow (we're not injecting any substances), so there isn't much to be concerned about with potential drug interactions. Other therapeutic approaches like physical therapy, massage, and chiropractic work extremely well with acupuncture. If you'd like to discuss your particular situation, whether a stand-alone or integrated approach might be best for you, please give me a call: 719-297-7121 Best regards, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE
How does acupuncture help in treating infertility?
Thanks for asking! I'm going to attach some study links below so that you have some information to review. From a bio-medical perspective, acupuncture is doing several things, all of which can potentially benefit someone experiencing infertility. It can increase blood flow, alter endocrine function, and is generally relaxing. There are lots of different reasons why a woman may be experiencing infertility: PCOS, endometriosis, structural issues with the fallopian tubes, and so on. It's best to have some idea, from the perspective of western medicine, where the problem lies before coming to an acupuncturist for assistance. I've done a bit of work with menstrual issues, PCOS, and infertility. I'm usually pretty successful, unfortunately correcting the underlying issues takes some time. Usually, we're looking at 3 months or so to get the hormones regulated. If your sister is in or near Woodland Park, CO, I offer a free 30-minute consult. If she's somewhere else (even out of state), I can usually come up with a referral. Studies: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1817-acupuncture-enhances-fertility-treatment-lowers-adverse-effects http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1716-acupuncture-outperforms-drugs-for-infertility-promotes-pregnancy https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=154059 Best regards, Jeff Rippey, L.Ac. READ MORE