Services

What are the needles like? Do they hurt?
People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel
only minimal pain as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all.
Once the needles are in place, there is no pain felt. Acupuncture
needles are very thin and solid and are made from stainless steel. The
point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic
needle) and insertion through the skin is not as painful as injections or
blood sampling. The risk of bruising and skin irritation is less than when
using a hollow needle. Because the needles are pre-sterilized; single
use only, using the same techniques as for surgical instruments, there
is no risk of infection from the treatments.

What are the "Do's and Don'ts" on my day of treatment?
To enhance the value of a treatment, the following guidelines are
important:

		Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after your
		treatment.
		Do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consume alcoholic
		beverages within 6 hours before or after the treatment
		Plan your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at
		least not have to be working at top performance. This is especially important for the first few visits.
		Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your regular
		doctor. Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) especially in the week prior to treatment, will seriously interfere with the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments.
		Remember to keep good mental or written notes of what your response is to
		the treatment. This is important for your doctor to know so that the follow-up treatments can be designed to best help you and your problem

What can I Expect During Treatment?
Treatment begins with the initial visit lasting 1-1/2 to 2 hours. During
this time, an in-depth interview is conducted, gathering information
about main concerns, medical history, physical conditions and
observations. A physical exam and thorough pulse diagnosis are also
conducted. Any questions are addressed and a treatment plan is
discussed. After the initial visit, subsequent treatments usually last 45
minutes to an hour. Generally, to evaluate progress and monitor
response to treatment, it is ideal to return for a weekly appointment for
approximately 4-8 weeks. As balance is achieved and the condition
improves and stabilizes, treatments are scheduled less frequently. Once
healthy, seasonal treatments can help maintain optimum health and
well-being.

What kind of response will I have to the treatment?
The nature and severity of your condition, how long you have had it, as
well as life-style choices that may support or impede treatment, are all
factors that affect the number and frequency of treatment as well as
the response to treatment. Since every person is unique, response to
treatment is quite individual. Some notice an immediate improvement,
others notice changes in overall health and well-being with
improvements in the main complaint following. The Acupuncture
Physician and the patient will always work together in order to achieve
the most efficient and profound treatment response.