What to Expect at Your First Appointment

What To Expect At Your First Appointment

Your first appointment usually lasts about 60-90 minutes. Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out the necessary paperwork.

We will discuss your health and medical history, your lifestyle, your concerns, and your goals for treatment. Depending upon your specific condition, I will then take your pulse, look at your tongue, and palpate, to obtain more information about your general health. This is necessary in order to determine the most effective acupuncture points for your treatment. After, I will recommend a course of treatment and explain how acupuncture and the other modalities I use, will fit into that course of treatment.

You should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. Depending on the treatment, you may remain fully clothed. If you prefer, gowns and linens are always available. In some cases, I will recommend a gown if your particular treatment calls for it.

In many cases, acupuncture will be augmented by other therapies such as cupping, gua sha, bodywork, moxibustion (moxa), electrical stimulation (E-stim), cold laser, and essential oils, etc. For first time patients, I will explain the treatment step by step as I proceed.

For most people receiving treatment is quite relaxing. Many people even fall asleep. Acupuncture needles are as small as a cat whisker. When they are inserted you may feel a sensation of dull, heavy ache, which is called the Qi sensation. Acupuncture should not be painful, please inform me if you feel any discomfort, and I will adjust the needle for you. Rarely is there any bleeding or bruises, people who are on blood thinners can even receive acupuncture.

How you'll feel afterwards varies greatly from patient to patient and from session to session. Some treatments may leave you relaxed and energized; others may leave you with a desire to rest.

There will usually be recommendations for you to do at home, following your treatment. These may include dietary, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations, handouts about purification, whole food supplements, herbal supplements, and essential oils.

How often you will need treatment, will depend upon your individual needs. For most conditions, I recommend one treatment, at least once a week, for six consecutive weeks. Most conditions show significant improvement within three to twelve sessions. Acute conditions usually resolve quicker than chronic conditions. For fertility concerns, I recommend at least three months to impact the menstrual cycle. For health maintenance or preventative care, I recommend 12 treatments per year, or as needed.

Follow-up visits usually last 45-60 minutes. I will begin by asking you about any changes you might have felt since your last treatment and if you have any new concerns. After the assessment, I will proceed with the appropriate treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns along the treatment process, please always ask. I strive to create a comfortable and healing environment for my patients to reach their health goals.