getting a treatment

a stack of rocks with water flowing around it 
Getting an acupuncture treatment is generally something that is eagerly awaited and treasured for the feeling of relaxation that seems so easy to attain when the needles are in.  I am consistently amazed at how well this ancient medicine fits into our current lives.  I am honored when a patient schedules time out of their busy life to spend some time on one of my tables and I look forward to the time just after the session when I know they are leaving feeling better than when they arrived.  
But maybe this all sounds too mysterious.  What will actually happen when you schedule a treatment?  Read on...

  • Follow the link in your appointment confirmation email to fill out all of your health history and consent forms online - this will take about 20-30 minutes.

  • Do

    -have something to eat in the few hours before your session

    -wear loose comfortable clothing that can expose your legs (up to your knees), and your arms (up to your elbows). Be prepared to take off your shoes and socks.

    if your outfit doesn’t fit these specifications I have drape sheets that we can use instead

    -come to your appointment free of alcohol and recreational drugs

    -plan to spend 75-90 minutes at my office

    Don’t

    -don’t brush your tongue in the 24 hours before your appointment - I use the visual appearance of the tongue to help make a diagnosis

  • We’ll talk through your health history and your current health concerns. I’ll have a lot of questions for you but there’s time and space for your questions too. I will spend a bit of time taking your pulse, looking at your tongue and doing some abdominal and/or body/channel palpation to help me make a working diagnosis. You can see a needle up close or you can skip that part. Once I start needling I’ll do everything I can to make sure the experience is comfortable.

    Once the needles are in I’ll give you some space and you can have a rest for about 20 minutes. Many patients treasure this nap that can often feel so much more restorative than a full night of sleep.

  • Even after all the needles have been removed your body may continue to adjust to the treatment for a few hours or days following acupuncture. These adjustments are usually relaxing and pleasurable but respect your body during this time - drink water and rest when necessary and eat fresh, cooked foods.

    After you have received a few treatments you’ll become more familiar with what your body needs after a session and be able to plan accordingly.

    Some people experience bruising, itchiness or numbness/tingling around the needle sites over the next few hours. If you experience dizziness you may need to eat more on the day of your next appointment.

Want to return to the practice? That’s great! You never have to pay an additional fee to return to my practice. However if it’s been a while I’ll ask you to fill out the health history and consent forms again to make sure we’re current.

Book a followup session and add a note with the reason for your visit.