Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
What to expect at your first visit
Your first visit will last an hour, up to 90 minutes. Please have a light snack beforehand. You can bring completed intake forms or fill them out when you arrive. You will be given a quick tour of the suite and offered some water. If you arrive early and a seat is not available inside, you may be asked to wait in the courtyard.
Once inside a private treatment room, you will have a conversation with your practitioner about your chief complaint, medical history, and lifestyle. Current prescriptions, lab work, and imaging may be reviewed. An examination of your tongue and wrist pulses will be performed, along with affected areas of the body, in order to determine a TCM diagnosis.
You should wear loose fitting clothing. However, you may disrobe as necessary. You will be properly draped as you lie on a treatment table face up, face down, on your side, or a combination.
Tiny needles are placed gently into specific points carefully selected by your practitioner, and you are left alone to relax for 20-45 minutes, with your practitioner available by call button. Those who are nervous about needles are surprised to learn that they cause little or no sensation, and that experience is so relaxing that it's not unusual to fall asleep during treatments.
Payment is due the day of your treatment, and a follow-up visit will be scheduled.
Every body responds differently. Some people feel immediate effects, while others require several sessions. Additional therapies may be included at no additional charge* if deemed necessary by your practitioner, including fire cupping, massage, gua sha, stretching, guided breathing, or dietary suggestions. The relief resulting from acupuncture can last anywhere from a few hours to several days or longer, and increases with frequency.
Depending on your condition and goals, it may be best to receive acupuncture one to two times per week for the first month, and then once every one to two weeks the following month. Many people then commit to one to two monthly treatments to maintain wellness. However, schedules and finances are considered, and treatment plans are adjusted accordingly.
*This does not apply to insurance benefits.