FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About the Practice

What is Scarlet Oak Wellness?

Scarlet Oak Wellness (also known as Scarlet Oak Acupuncture & Functional Medicine) is a holistic health practice founded by Jill Hicks, blending functional medicine and 1-on-1 health coaching with traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, and herbal medicine) to address the root causes of health concerns rather than just treating symptoms. Functional medicine consultations and coaching programs are offered via telehealth, so you can work with Jill no matter where you live. Acupuncture and other hands-on therapies are offered in person at her Washington, DC office.

Who is Jill Hicks?

Jill Hicks is the functional medicine practitioner, health coach, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist behind Scarlet Oak Wellness. She holds a master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine, has advanced training in functional medicine, and is certified in nutrition and macros coaching. Jill has spent more than 10 years helping clients improve their health, and draws on her own experience with pain, burnout and perimenopause to inform a foundational, root-cause approach to care.

What conditions does Scarlet Oak Wellness treat?

Scarlet Oak Wellness supports a wide range of concerns, including fatigue, sleep issues, stress, digestive and gastrointestinal problems, weight management, hormone imbalances, menstrual irregularities, perimenopause and menopause, fertility challenges, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, allergies, and endometriosis. If you are experiencing an issue but are unsure which modality is most effective to treat it (acupuncture vs. functional medicine testing, etc…) please contact Jill and she can guide you.

What makes Scarlet Oak Wellness different from a typical wellness practice?

Scarlet Oak Wellness pairs functional medicine lab testing and diagnostics with traditional Chinese medicine, so treatment plans are built on both objective data and hands-on assessment when appropriate. Rather than treating isolated symptoms, Jill focuses on foundational health — nutrition, sleep, stress, and movement — while investigating deeper drivers like hormone and gut health as needed. You will leave your very first appointment with lifestyle and other recommendations you can implement immediately, along with a comprehensive treatment plan for the coming weeks or months. 

Who does Scarlet Oak Wellness work with?

Scarlet Oak Wellness welcomes anyone who wants to manage their health holistically, whether they're joining a coaching program, a functional medicine consult, or an in-person acupuncture visit — including support for fatigue, hormone imbalance, fertility, pain, allergies, digestive issues, and autoimmune disease. If you like the idea of optimizing health, preventing disease and not just waiting until things start to fall apart, you will love working with Jill. 

Functional Medicine

  • Functional medicine is a patient-centered, systems-based approach to healthcare that looks for the underlying root causes of illness rather than treating symptoms in isolation. At Scarlet Oak Wellness, Jill applies this through a three-body-system model that evaluates the neuroendocrine, gastrointestinal, and detoxification systems.

  • Functional medicine visits start with a thorough review of diet and lifestyle, and if needed, comprehensive diagnostic lab testing. From there, Jill builds a customized wellness plan that may include dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and therapeutic supplements, with ongoing adjustments as your needs change.

    This is specialized lifestyle and functional work, just for you. You will work through a framework of your own goals, needs and restrictions, Jill understands that everyone’s day and week looks different and allows for different things, she will work within that framework to customize this plan to maximize your success. 

  • Yes — functional medicine appointments are available by telehealth, so you can work with Jill remotely. Telehealth is the preferred modality for all Functional Medicine and Coaching clients, though Jill can be available to meet in person in her DC office on a limited basis. 

  • A new patient consult (60–75 minutes) is $275. Lab review consults (50 minutes) are $150, telehealth follow-ups (30 minutes) are $100, and a package of four telehealth follow-ups is $350.

Coaching Programs

  • Scarlet Oak Wellness offers specialized 1-on-1 coaching packages for specific life stages and health goals: 

  • Yes. All coaching programs are designed to work virtually, so you can join from anywhere — no need to live near Washington, DC or visit in person.

  • The GLP-1 Companion program (5 weeks, 5 one-hour sessions) is $1,075.

    Fertility Foundations (3.5 months, 8 sessions) is $1,700.

    The Very Peri program is $1,525 for one person or $2,000 total for two people doing it together. Additional one-on-one consultation time is $175 per hour.

Acupuncture & Hands-On Therapies

  • Acupuncture is a core technique of traditional Chinese medicine that uses thin, solid, filiform needles inserted at specific points on the body to stimulate the body's own healing response. The World Health Organization has documented evidence of acupuncture's effectiveness for more than 100 conditions.

  • Acupuncture needles are very fine, almost as thin as a human hair, and most patients feel little to nothing beyond a slight grabbing or dull, achy sensation as a needle reaches its point. Many patients relax deeply, and many fall asleep during treatment.

  • Yes. Acupuncture performed by a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) using sterile, single-use needles is considered very safe, with a low risk of side effects such as minor bruising at needle sites.

  • A first visit is a 90-minute intake appointment. Jill reviews your medical history and lifestyle with you, checks your tongue and pulse, and builds a tailored treatment plan with dietary and lifestyle recommendations before beginning acupuncture. Acupuncture requires an in-person visit at the office in Georgetown, Washington, DC.

  • An initial 90-minute intake appointment is $275. Follow-up visits are 60 minutes and cost $158, with package discounts available. Every session can include cupping, gua sha, and LED light therapy at no extra charge.

  • The number of sessions varies by person and condition. Some people notice benefits after one or two visits, while chronic or long-standing issues typically respond best to a consistent series of weekly or biweekly treatments. Jill recommends a specific plan based on your intake evaluation.

  • Jill often integrates acupuncture, cupping, and gua sha into an in-person visit while also drawing on functional medicine principles and lessons, so care can include elements of both, but at the heart of it, an acupuncture appointment is about acupuncture and a Functional medicine appointment will not include acupuncture.

Booking & Practical Info

  • You can book online through the Scarlet Oak Wellness patient portal, or reach the office directly by phone at (202) 643-8189 or by email at jhicks@scarletoakacupuncture.com.

  • Coaching programs and functional medicine telehealth visits are designed to be accessed remotely. If you're located outside the United States, let Jill know when you reach out — she can confirm whether telehealth is available where you live before you book.

  • For acupuncture and other hands-on visits, Scarlet Oak Wellness is located at 1101 30th St NW, Suite 500, in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. The office is open Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Scarlet Oak Wellness does not bill to insurance directly, though Jill can give you a coded superbill to submit to see if you receive reimbursement. You can also use HSA/FSA funds to pay for your appointments in most cases.