First Visit

Many patients have never had Acupuncture before. Here are a few recommendations to improve success during your first treatment.

preparation for your appointment

Now that your done researching, it’s time to relax. You will receive an email with paperwork to fill out before your appointment. In the email, you will have detailed information about how to prepare, what to expect, and how long your visit will last.

intake

Upon arrival, relax in the simplistic scenery arranged to ease your concerns. The session will begin with an extensive conversation about your chief complaints. The investigative process will include questions relating to your current symptoms, past treatments, patient and family medical history, diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and emotional health. Once discussed, multiple diagnostic tools will be used to understand the root cause of your illness.

diagnosis and discussion

There are many tools used in the diagnostic process. The two main ones are pulse and tongue diagnosis. The pulse on both wrists will be taken to determine how your Qi is flowing inside the body. There are 26 qualities to a pulse and it’s feedback provides an in depth understanding of your inner being. Tongue diagnosis, while less intricate, serves as a visual roadmap, supporting pulse diagnosis.

Once a pattern has been established, an in depth discussion will enlighten you to the cause of your disease pattern and the different ways it manifests in both signs and symptoms. This will be the first step in designing a treatment plan.

treatment

Acupuncture is a powerful yet gentle treatment that can be used to facilitate healing. Most patients agree that Acupuncture is painless & extremely relaxing. Once the needles are placed in specific points, they can be retained from 10-25 minutes. It is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep as they rest on the treatment table.

TIPS

recommendations for your first appointment

Wear loose fitting clothing

Many acupuncture points are on the upper back, the lower legs and on the arms below the elbows. This means skinny jeans and tight, long sleeved shirts and sports bras will likely interfere with treatment.

If you’re being treated for a specific injury, your acupuncturist will want to examine the affected area and likely treat it locally. When clothing is adjusted or removed, I will ensure you are comfortable throughout treatment.

Answer questions honestly & completely

Acupuncture is a holistic therapy. This means in addition to details about your specific concerns, Acupuncturists are also interested in how the body functions as a whole. Therefore, the more detailed information about your history + current health as well as your lifestyle, the more an informed decision regarding treatment can be made. This information is used to create an individualized treatment plan for you. As your treatments progress, you will find Acupuncture helping you in ways you may not have expected. Patients often notice improvements in sleep, digestion, and stress (to name a few).

Eat something

It is not recommended for patients to have treatment on an empty stomach. Although not typical, you may feel light headed or dizzy after treatment. To optimize healing, eat just enough that you’re not hungry, but not so much that you’re full.

Don't brush your tongue within 48 hours of treatment

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses many diagnostic techniques, tongue diagnosis being one. Observing the coat on your tongue is important to validate other forms of diagnosis. Its shape, quality, color, and coating are all taken into account. For this reason, it’s best not to drink coffee, eat colored candy, or any food that will stain your tongue

Acupuncture needles are relatively painless

Acupuncture needles are about as fine as the hair on your head. You can fit 20+ needles in the same width as the hypodermic needles you are accustomed to at the doctor’s office. While some patients occasionally feel a slight pinch at insertion, Acupuncture is not a painful experience. Our needles are single use, sterile, & hypoallergenic.

Enjoy the relaxation

While acupuncture is more like a medical office visit rather than a spa appointment, it is very relaxing. After the pins have been inserted in the acupuncture points, you will relax on the table for around 15 minutes. This is a great time to clear your mind, meditate, or take a nap. Most people go into a deep state of relaxation–this is a state where profound healing occurs.

Provide feedback

During & after your sessions, pay attention to how you feel. This information will help continue to tailor your treatment to fit your needs and provides a great foundation during times of reevaluation.