WHAT TO EXPECT

I set aside a time solely for you. Your initial consultation and treatment will last anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Each successive treatment usually lasts about 45 minutes, depending on your diagnosis. Your job is to relax and allow the healing process to occur. Feel free to ask questions or voice any concerns that arise during the treatment. Trust that all information is confidential. The treatment does not end when the needles are removed. Acupuncture has initiated a change within the body and now it is your right and responsibility to insure that these positive patterns are fostered. If possible, take some time to relax after your treatment. Most importantly, take an active part in your healthcare. I will be happy to discuss diet and lifestyle changes, which will best benefit your specific condition. Occasionally symptoms of illness may temporarily increase after treatment. This is known as a healing crisis—a positive sign that the body is rallying its strength to move old blocks and patterns of disease so that a balanced flow of energy may be re-established.

I will carefully evaluate your personal condition by asking questions about past and present medical history, taking the pulses, observing the tongue, and palpating various areas of the body for tenderness. With this information I decide on what treatment is needed for your specific condition. Modern acupuncture needles are extremely fine so that the treatment is usually almost painless. Each needle is sterile and disposable. You feel a tiny pinprick as the needle goes through the skin, followed by a dull ache, a tugging feeling, and a warm or tingling sensation as the energy of the point is reached. The needles are normally left in about 20-40 minutes before being taken out. Sometimes moxibustion, a Chinese herb that is rolled into sticks or cones and burned above the skin, is used during the treatment. Acupuncture is generally a very relaxing experience.