FIRST TIME PATIENT INFORMATION:

-Wear loose and comfortable clothing that will make it easy to access your arms and legs. We do carry robes in the clinic as well as elastic shorts in case you do forget. 

- Be sure to eat a little something prior to your treatment. This helps your body have enough energy to maximize the treatment's potential as well as help avoid any potential drops in blood sugar.

-First time patients should arrive 10 minutes prior to their appointment time in order to fill out necessary paperwork. 

-Initial treatments take approximately 90 minutes. During this time, we will discuss your health background, your treatment plan, how acupuncture can help you, and answer any questions you may have regarding acupuncture. Follow up and reoccuring treatments will take anywhere from 45-60 minutes. 

COMMON QUESTIONS: 

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

In order to understand acupuncture one must first understand qi. According to Chinese Medical theory our bodies have energy flowing through them. The energy, or qi, flows into our bodies from the sky above, from the earth below, and through the air we breathe and the food we eat. The qi flows through 14 main channels in the body and each of these is associated with a specific organ. When the channel becomes blocked the qi cannot flow causing stagnation of energy in our body.  Acupuncture works on opening up blockages in the channels so that the energy can get to where it needs to go in the body. 

HOW WILL I RESPOND TO ACUPUNCTURE? 

One of the many great things about Chinese medicine is that it addresses the unique constitution of an entire individual rather than the general population. This being said, everyone will respond in their own unique way to acupuncture. Many people report feeling relaxed after treatments. Others feel energetic, drowsy, or even blissful. As far as relief of symptoms, some patients experience immediate relief while others don’t feel the effect for up to 72 hours after treatment. Muscle soreness the following day is a normal reaction. This is because when the stagnant energy or“qi” of the body is moved by acupuncture it will likely come across other blockages in the channel in its process of reharmonizing. 

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY? 

This depends on the duration, severity and nature of the complaint. Rarely is one acupuncture treatment sufficient to resolve an issue. However, in acute circumstances less treatments are generally required for relief.  Chronic problems will often call for a longer term treatment plan involving weekly treatments until symptoms improve. And some people come in once a month for the maintenance of health and quality of life.