The first time you visit, we will begin with a detailed health assessment of your health concerns. I will complete a Chinese Medicine health intake, and then you will receive your treatment. Chinese Medicine looks at the whole body, so I may ask questions that you perceive to be unrelated. I promise you it is all part of me getting to know you as an individual and therefore being able to create an appropriate diagnosis and course of treatment. The initial intake and treatment will take approximately one and a half hours. Any follow up treatment will generally last one hour.

Prior to your first visit, begin to think about what you would like to work on. What are your expectations? Do you have any questions? Think about when your problem started, what caused it, what makes it better/worse, etc. On the day of your appointment, eat a meal within two hours before your treatment, avoid alcohol and heavy physical exertion, wear loose fitting clothing, and bring a list of current medications if applicable.

Since all people are individuals and will react differently, I will discuss with you an individualized course of treatment specific to you, your constitution, and your health concerns. This is a plan of duration and frequency of treatments that I feel it will take to address your condition. In general, the more acute/recent conditions can be treated more quickly than something that is more chronic or long lasting. Additionally, the more quickly that we can address a condition, the better.

Once you initiate the healing process, it is important to follow through on the discussed course of treatment. Consistency is key due to the fact that acupuncture tends to have a cumulative effect.

People always ask “Will this hurt?” Acupuncture rarely delivers any discomfort to the patient. I am very gentle and will work with you to be sure that you are comfortable and relaxed. Occasionally, you may feel a small prick that dissipates in seconds, or a sensation known as Da Qi. This is the Chinese word for “feeling Qi”. It may feel like a dull ache, numbness, distention, or tingling. None of these sensations should be painful; in fact, they are all natural feelings that appear during an acupuncture treatment. If a feeling would become uncomfortable, please let me know so that I can remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

I will place as few needles as possible to reach therapeutic results and the needles will be retained about 30 minutes. I will leave the room at this time to allow you to fully relax and tune into your body. After 30 minutes, I will return to remove the needles. You will most likely feel relaxed, and sometimes results can be immediate, other times it can take a few hours or a few days. Results may also last only a few hours or a few days. As you come back for more treatments, it is the hope that the results will continue to last longer. Soon, you may feel as though you won’t need to come in anymore or your concerns will be addressed and dissipate.

Healing is a very tiring process for your body; it uses a lot of your Qi. To be sure that your body is truly healthy and strengthened, I recommend solidifying your results with just a few more treatments. After we finish your treatment course, I welcome you to come back for acupuncture when your body, mind, or spirit need it.

In order to restore health, Chinese Medicine first recognizes the cause of a disease or what is contributing to an imbalance within the body. By understanding the origin of the illness, a specific Acupuncture treatment is implemented to target the cause. In this way, acupuncture is able to heal the root of the problem and bring the patient back into a healthy state.

Along with treating the root cause of the disease, Acupuncture heals the person as a whole. Elements of Chinese Medicine work in conjunction to restore the health of an individual on a physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual level. By focusing on treating the patient in a (w)holistic manner, all dimensions of the body are healed and in balance.

When treating the body, we understand and respect that each and every one of our bodies are naturally self-healing. Chinese Medicine supports the body’s own self-healing mechanisms. This ensures that acupuncture is strengthening and wholesome for all our body systems.

Since this self-healing process is present in the body, it is constantly functioning to prevent diseases from occurring. Although our bodies are continuously combating disease, a person’s actions can lead the body toward infinite health or damaging diseases. Chinese Medicine emphasizes leading a healthy lifestyle to prevent illness from occurring in the first place. Preventing disease with plant-based foods, exercise, sleep, and a focus on our spiritual and emotional well-being will create a body full of health. Prevention is the best form of remedy because it enables the body to be healthy and fully functional indefinitely.

Educating patients is also a large part of Chinese Medicine. By having a role as a teacher, acupuncturists are able to instruct patients on how to lead lifestyles that ultimately and ideally prevent diseases from occurring. Along with preventing disease, we teach patients how to restore health within themselves and their families when diseases do arise using various healing modalities. Mother Nature has provided all beings with whole foods, plants, herbs, sunshine, and much more to ensure health for all. Acupuncturists teach their patients how to use the resources the earth provides to prevent and restore health.

Chinese Medicines truly helps individuals become and stay well and creates a lifestyle that will provide them with optimum health to thrive.