An ancient form of Eastern medicine is more popular than ever before. Americans spend billions of dollars on alternative forms of medicine like acupuncture each year. Acupuncture needles can treat variety of disorders, although the treatment is best known for the control of pain.

"It's traveling down the leg and it’s getting more and more intense as time goes by," said Art Panke.

For Panke, just walking down the street is painful. Having success with acupuncture in the past, Panke wanted to try it again. The only problem was the cost.

"I am in need of low cost work, right now, since I don't work," Panke said.

Panke didn't have to go far to find a community-based acupuncture group with one goal.

"Make acupuncture more accessible, more affordable," said Leslie Mentel of Rochester Community Acupuncture.

The key to this approach is seeing more than one patient at the same time. In addition to lower costs, the group setting has other advantages.

"It really has the effect of bring you into the mood of the room which is usually very calm and very quiet. So it's more conducive to a healing environment," Mentel said.

The idea behind the needles is to help re-balance the body, allowing it to heal itself. Since the treatment works over time these acupuncturists say a model that helps patients come more often is ideal.

"If cost is an issue and you know you’re paying $65, $75, or $85 dollars for a treatment, and can only do it once a week, you're not going to get the same benefits," said Angela Pauling of Rochester Community Acupuncture.

Panke is able to get treatments two to three times a week. These visits are slowly improving his leg pain.

"It's not a dramatic miracle kind of cure but progress is being made," Panke said.

For Panke, saving $85 dollars a visit is the biggest benefit.

"It’s fairly easy arithmetic as far as I'm concerned," Panke added.