What to expect
Please silence your phone before entering the suite.
You may prepare ahead of time by printing out the intake forms and bringing them in completed. Please do not arrive on and empty stomach or eat a large meal less than two hours before your treatment. You should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
When you arrive, you will be given a quick tour and offered some drinking water. The suite is very small so please use a soft voice in the common areas as a courtesy to others. If you are early, you may sit in the reception area but audible phone usage must take place outside in the courtyard.
Once inside your private treatment room, you will have a conversation with your acupuncturist 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. Your blood pressure will be measured.
If you need to disrobe, you will do so privately and be properly draped as you lie on a treatment table face up, face down, on your side, in a reclined seated position, or a combination.
After tiny, flexible pins are gently inserted into carefully selected, specific points, you will be left alone to relax for a minimum of 15 minutes, with your acupuncturist available by call button. Those who are nervous about needles are surprised to learn that they cause little or no sensation, and the experience is so relaxing that it's not unusual to fall asleep during treatments. For those who self-pay or have been referred by VA, additional modalities may be employed if deemed necessary by your practitioner, including infrared heat therapy, fire cupping, gua sha, stretching, massage, guided breathing, or dietary suggestions.
Appointments are available every thirty minutes. The initial visit will last 60-90 minutes,* and a follow-up visit will be scheduled. Return visits last 30-55 minutes.*
We are all unique so every body responds differently. Some people feel immediate effects, while others require several sessions. The relief resulting from acupuncture can last anywhere from a few hours to several days or longer, and increases with consistency.
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. Once your condition has improved and is stable, you may decide, like many others, to commit to one to two monthly treatments to maintain wellness. However, schedules and finances are considered, so treatment plans are adjusted accordingly.
*This does not apply to those using insurance benefits other than VA.