Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first visit like?
•    You will fill out a health history form, found here, that will help me understand the big picture.  Then, we will talk extensively about your health and what you would like to treat with acupuncture.  We may also discuss possible dietary and lifestyle modifications to help your healing progress.
•     I will feel your pulse and look at your tongue.  This, along with our discussion, will help me diagnosis your imbalance.
•    Next, I insert tiny, individually packaged, sterilized needles into acupuncture points along the imbalanced Organ-Meridian pathway.
•     The needles remain in for about 30 minutes, during which time many people experience deep relaxation.
•    Then, I will remove the needles and answer any questions you may have.

Your Treatment May Also Include:
•    Cupping: A technique that uses a light suction to draw toxins and stagnant blood out of the bodies tissues.
•    Gua Sha: A technique using a smooth edged tool, such as a ceramic soup spoon, to rub the skin and clear out toxins.
 
What should I do to prepare for the visit?
Don't come in on an empty stomach, eat something light an hour or two before.  Wear/bring comfortable, loose clothing.  If possible, keep your schedule light for the rest of the day, as you will probably be very relaxed after the treatment.

Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very thin, with a rounded tip that helps them to be painlessly tapped into the body.  Sometimes you will feel the needle insertion.  It’s sometimes described as a mosquito bite sensation.  While some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, you probably won’t feel the needles very much.  You may, however, begin to feel the Qi moving in your body.  This may feel like a dull sensation around the needle after it is inserted, or you may feel light sensations like waves flowing through parts of your body.  It is deeply relaxing and different for every person.

How often do I need to come?
As a general rule, long standing conditions take longer to treat than recent, acute ones. 
It is best to come at least twice a week for the first couple weeks.  The goal is to get another treatment before your symptoms return to their original state.  I think of this as creating a new set point that the body adjusts too.  This keeps you symptom free for longer and longer periods of time, until they diminish altogether.  Once the condition is under control, monthly “maintenance” treatments are recommended as a way of checking in and preventing further disease processes.