NCCAOM Certified | Integrative Oncology Training, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Hospice and Palliative Acupuncture | Society for Integrative Oncology Member | Licensed in Louisiana | 20+ years experience
Grant Sutton, LAc
I've been practicing acupuncture in New Orleans for over a decade. My clinical focus — oncology support, fertility, and perimenopause — isn't accidental. These are the patients who tend to fall through the gaps: people navigating something serious who are often told acupuncture is "worth a try," without being sent to someone who actually specializes in their condition. I trained in integrative oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, hold NCCAOM board certification, and maintain active membership in the Society for Integrative Oncology. I take referrals from oncologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and OB-GYNs, and I work as part of a patient's care team — not in place of it.
My practice is cash-pay, and I keep my schedule intentionally small enough to give each patient real time and attention. If you're dealing with something serious and want someone who's trained for it, I'm ready to talk.
Fatigue, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, sleep problems, anxiety — these are the side effects your oncology team is managing medically. Acupuncture is what can help you live through treatment, not just survive it.
Grant has trained specifically in integrative oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This isn't general wellness. It's targeted clinical support.
Cancer treatment is hard on the body. The fatigue that chemotherapy causes isn't ordinary tiredness — it's a bone-deep depletion that sleep doesn't fix. Nausea can make eating feel impossible. Peripheral neuropathy makes your hands and feet feel like they belong to someone else. Anxiety runs underneath everything, and sleep — the thing your body needs most to repair — becomes unreliable.
Your oncology team is managing the disease. Acupuncture's role is to help you function while they do.
Research on acupuncture in oncology settings has focused on several categories of side effect management. Evidence is strongest in the following areas:
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting — one of the most consistently studied applications of acupuncture, with multiple randomized trials supporting its use alongside standard antiemetics
Cancer-related fatigue — distinct from ordinary fatigue and notoriously resistant to rest alone; acupuncture shows measurable effects in multiple studies, including those conducted at major cancer centers
Peripheral neuropathy — particularly chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet
Sleep disturbance — a nearly universal complaint during active treatment and into survivorship
Anxiety and mood disruption — not as a replacement for mental health support, but as a physical regulation tool
Hot flashes — particularly relevant for patients on hormone-suppressing therapies such as aromatase inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapy
Joint pain and musculoskeletal side effects — common with aromatase inhibitors and some immunotherapies
Post-surgical recovery support — pain, swelling, and return of function
I don't make claims about acupuncture's effect on cancer itself. It doesn't treat the disease. It treats the person living through the treatment.
Your first session will be longer — about 75 minutes. We'll go through your diagnosis, your current treatment protocol, what medications you're on, and what's affecting your quality of life most right now. That last part matters. Oncology patients often have multiple symptoms competing for attention, and the priority changes week to week.
I'll ask questions your acupuncturist may not usually ask: What phase of treatment are you in? When's your next infusion? Have you had any recent blood counts? These details change the treatment.
You'll lie comfortably on a treatment table. Needles are thin — most people feel little to nothing. For many patients, the session itself is one of the few hours in the week when they're not thinking about their diagnosis.
Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. I typically recommend weekly sessions during active treatment, with a plan to reassess as your protocol changes.
There are many capable acupuncturists in New Orleans. Fewer have trained specifically for oncology.
I completed integrative oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — one of the leading cancer centers in the world and a pioneer in the field of integrative oncology. MSKCC's program is designed for practitioners working directly with cancer patients, covering the clinical considerations, contraindications, and evidence base specific to this population.
I'm a member of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), the professional organization that sets evidence-based guidelines for integrative care in cancer treatment.
I've also trained in Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture — because some patients I see aren't in active treatment. Some are in the transition to palliative care, and comfort and quality of life become the entire goal. I take that seriously.
What this means for you: when you come in during active chemotherapy, I'm not guessing. I know the specific protocols that are safe for patients who are immunocompromised. I know when to be conservative and when it's appropriate to push. I communicate with your oncology team when it's relevant.
This work is for you if:
You're in active chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy and struggling with side effects
You've completed treatment and are dealing with persistent fatigue, neuropathy, or hormonal side effects
You're on long-term hormone-suppressing therapy (aromatase inhibitors, ADT) and managing joint pain, hot flashes, or fatigue
You're in palliative or hospice care and seeking comfort-focused support
You've been referred by an oncologist, navigator, or social worker and want to understand what acupuncture can offer
If you're looking for a practitioner who will make claims about acupuncture curing or treating cancer, I'm not the right fit. I work alongside your oncology team — not around them.
If you're in active treatment and haven't told your oncologist you're considering acupuncture, please do before booking. It's a simple conversation, and most oncologists are comfortable with it.
Initial sessions are $155 and run approximately 75 minutes. Follow-up sessions are $130 for 60 minutes.
For patients in active treatment or with financial hardship, I offer an Oncology Support Session at a sliding scale of $65–$95. This is available by application — just mention it when you reach out.
I provide superbills for all sessions. Some insurance plans cover acupuncture out-of-network. FSA and HSA funds are eligible.
Book Your Initial Consultation | Contact Me to Ask a Question
Q: Can I come in during active chemotherapy?
A: Yes, with awareness. I'll want to know your current protocol, recent lab values if available, and where you are in your treatment cycle. Timing and technique are adjusted based on where you are in treatment. Some patients feel best coming in the week before an infusion; others prefer the week after. We'll figure out what works for your body.
Q: My oncologist hasn't mentioned acupuncture. Should I ask?
A: Yes — and most oncologists are open to it, particularly at larger cancer centers where integrative oncology is part of the program. You can tell them you're seeing a practitioner with integrative oncology training at an MSKCC-affiliated program. If it would help to have more information to share, I'm happy to provide it.
Q: Will acupuncture interfere with my treatment?
A: When practiced by a trained integrative oncology practitioner, acupuncture does not interfere with standard cancer treatments. I'm trained to recognize contraindications — including sites to avoid for patients with specific implants, low platelet counts, or active infection — and will always practice within those safety parameters. If there's any question, I'll consult with your care team before proceeding.
IVF is physically demanding and emotionally exhausting. Acupuncture doesn't replace your reproductive endocrinologist — it works alongside your protocol to support your body through every phase of the cycle.
Cycle-timed sessions, evidence-informed approach.
Two years of trying. Or one failed cycle. Or the news that you're going into IVF and you want to do every reasonable thing you can to support the process.
The fertility journey is hard in ways that are difficult to describe to people who haven't been through it. It's the calendar-watching, the hormone injections, the two-week waits, the appointments stacked on top of appointments. It's the hope that gets disciplined down to something smaller and more cautious. It's the body that feels like it's become a project instead of a home.
Acupuncture doesn't fix infertility. No single intervention does. But there's a growing body of research — with real limitations, and I'll tell you what those are — suggesting that acupuncture may support reproductive outcomes in some patients, particularly those undergoing IVF. And for most people, it meaningfully reduces the physical and emotional stress of the process, which matters whether or not it affects the outcome.
The research on acupuncture and fertility is mixed, which is the honest thing to say. The studies showing benefit tend to cluster around:
Uterine blood flow — acupuncture has shown measurable effects on uterine artery blood flow in imaging studies, which may support endometrial receptivity
Ovarian reserve and response — some evidence for improved follicle development and response to stimulation in IVF protocols, though studies are inconsistent
Stress hormone regulation — cortisol and other stress hormones have documented effects on reproductive function; acupuncture's effect on the HPA axis is one of the more replicated findings in the field
Implantation support — a frequently studied application, with transfer-day protocols used at many reproductive medicine centers
Side effect management during stimulation — bloating, cramping, mood disruption, and fatigue during stimulation are real and treatable
Post-retrieval recovery — patients often report significant physical discomfort after egg retrieval; acupuncture can help manage this
Luteal phase support — regulatory support during the two-week wait, which is both physically and emotionally significant
For patients pursuing natural conception or IUI, the approach is similar but adapted: cycle-timed treatments aligned with your cycle phases rather than a stimulation calendar.
IVF has distinct phases, and each one calls for a different approach:
Pre-stimulation (baseline to start of meds): Building a foundation — regulating the cycle, supporting sleep, addressing any baseline stress or constitutional factors before the active protocol begins. Ideally this begins 1–2 cycles before your retrieval cycle.
Stimulation phase: Sessions timed to the early and middle part of stimulation. Focus on supporting follicular development, managing side effects, and keeping the nervous system regulated during what is, for most people, a stressful two to three weeks.
Transfer preparation: A session in the 24 hours before transfer is one of the most researched applications in acupuncture and reproductive medicine. Some clinics recommend it; many REs are familiar with it. A session in the 24 hours after transfer is also commonly used.
Luteal phase: Support sessions during the two-week wait, focusing on blood flow, relaxation, and symptom management.
The specifics are always tailored to your individual situation, your protocol, and what your RE's team recommends.
I coordinate with your reproductive endocrinologist. If your RE has preferences about timing or wants to know what I'm doing, I welcome that conversation. I don't work around your medical team — I work with them.
I'll ask to see your protocol. I want to know what medications you're on, what your monitoring appointments are showing, and what your clinic's specific approach is. The acupuncture I provide is always adapted to your current picture, not a generic fertility protocol.
I've been treating fertility patients in New Orleans for over 10 years. I've worked with patients at all stages: people just starting to think about trying, people who've had multiple failed cycles, people who've been told donor eggs are the next step, and people who've gone on to have healthy pregnancies. I've also worked with patients who didn't achieve pregnancy and are navigating what comes next. All of it is within scope.
Your first session is approximately 75 minutes. We'll discuss your fertility history, your current or upcoming protocol, and what your goals are. I'll do a full assessment and begin treatment in the same session.
Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. During an active IVF cycle, most patients see me weekly — more frequently around retrieval and transfer if timing allows.
New patient initial consultation: $155
Follow-up sessions: $130
6-session package: $690 (saves $90; ideal for one complete IVF cycle)
10-session package: $1,100 (saves $200; best for multi-cycle support)
Superbills provided. FSA/HSA eligible.
Book Your First Appointment | Have a question? Contact me.
Q: When should I start acupuncture before IVF?
A: Ideally, 1–3 months before your retrieval cycle — enough time to complete 4–8 sessions before the active protocol begins. That said, if you're starting treatment soon, starting now is still valuable. Don't wait for a perfect timeline. The transfer-day protocol has shown benefit even for patients starting acupuncture for the first time.
Q: My RE hasn't mentioned acupuncture. Should I bring it up?
A: Yes. Most reproductive endocrinologists are aware of the research on acupuncture and IVF, and many are supportive. You can tell them you're working with a practitioner who has 10+ years of fertility-specific experience and who wants to coordinate with their team. If they have concerns or preferences, I'm happy to speak with them directly.
Q: Does acupuncture hurt during fertility treatment when hormones have me more sensitive?
A: Most patients find acupuncture during stimulation to be very tolerable — the needles used are extremely fine, and most people describe little more than a brief pressure. During stimulation, I'm generally more conservative with abdominal points and focus on distal points and points that support overall regulation. If something doesn't feel right, I adjust immediately.
Perimenopause is a biological shift that can hit hard. Hot flashes, disrupted sleep, mood instability, irregular cycles — these aren't in your head, and you don't have to wait them out.
Acupuncture addresses the regulatory systems underlying these symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves.
Hot flashes that arrive without warning, at 2pm in a meeting or 3am in bed. Sleep that used to be reliable and isn't anymore. A kind of irritability that feels different from stress — rawer, closer to the surface. Brain fog that makes you doubt your own competence. Cycles that have started doing something unpredictable.
Perimenopause is a real hormonal transition, not a mindset problem. It can start years before your last period, and for some people, it hits hard. If you're in it, you know.
Acupuncture for perimenopause works on the regulatory systems underlying these symptoms — primarily the autonomic nervous system and the HPA (stress hormone) axis, both of which are significantly disrupted by declining and fluctuating estrogen.
The areas with the most clinical evidence:
Hot flashes and night sweats — one of the more consistently studied applications; multiple trials show reduced frequency and intensity, particularly over 6–8 weeks of consistent treatment
Sleep disruption — both the ability to fall asleep and the ability to stay asleep; sleep quality often improves before hot flash frequency does
Mood and emotional regulation — irritability, anxiety, and low-grade depression that are physiologically driven, not just psychological
Brain fog and cognitive symptoms — often related to sleep disruption and stress hormone dysregulation, both of which acupuncture addresses
Irregular cycles and cycle-related symptoms — heavy bleeding, cramping, spotting between periods
This is not a replacement for hormone therapy if hormone therapy is indicated and appropriate for you. If you're working with a gynecologist or internist on perimenopause management, I work alongside that treatment.
The first session is 75 minutes — we'll go through your symptom picture in detail, including sleep quality, cycle patterns, stress levels, and any other relevant history. I'll do a full assessment and begin treatment.
Most patients see meaningful change in 6–8 weeks of weekly treatment. Some people respond faster; for some it takes longer. I'll tell you honestly at our 4-session check-in whether I'm seeing the kind of response that warrants continuing.
Follow-up sessions are 60 minutes. Once symptoms stabilize, many patients shift to twice-monthly or monthly maintenance sessions.
New patient initial consultation: $155
Follow-up sessions: $130
Consistent Care Membership (2 sessions/month): $260/month
Q: I'm already on hormone therapy. Can acupuncture still help?
A: Yes. HRT and acupuncture are not competing approaches. Many patients find that acupuncture helps with the symptoms that hormone therapy doesn't fully resolve — sleep disruption, mood fluctuations, joint pain — and some use it to extend the period before HRT is needed, or to manage symptoms during dosage adjustments.
Q: How long before I notice a difference?
A: Most patients who respond to treatment notice something within 4–6 sessions. Typically, sleep improves first, followed by hot flash frequency and intensity. I'll be transparent about what I'm seeing. If you haven't responded at all by session 6, that's useful information too, and we'll reassess.
How Payment Works
I'm a cash-pay practice. That means you pay at the time of your session — no insurance billing, no prior authorizations, no denials.
After each session, I can provide a superbill: an itemized receipt with the diagnostic and procedure codes your insurance company needs to process a reimbursement claim. Most Louisiana insurance plans don't cover acupuncture, but some do — particularly if you have an out-of-network benefit. Submitting a superbill takes about 10 minutes, and I'll walk you through how to do it.
FSA and HSA: Acupuncture is an FSA- and HSA-eligible expense. If you have a flex spending or health savings account, you can use those funds here directly.
Pricing starts at $130 for follow-up sessions.
4322 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 708-2338
Grant Sutton, LAc
4322 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 708-2338
Email: j.grant.sutton@gmail.com
NCCAOM Board Certified | Licensed in Louisiana
Book an Appointment | About | Blog
© Grant Sutton, LAc. All rights reserved.
