What should I expect from a first visit?

First visit appointments are 90 minutes long. The first 20-40 minutes we will discuss your health history and a short physical exam. Then, we will discuss a treatment plan that works for you and finish with an acupuncture treatment. Depending on the patient, there will be personalized self-care items, supplements or dietary changes that is included in the treatment plan. It is typical that patients feel more relaxed, less pain, and sleep better for the first few days after their first treatment.

How often will I need to receive treatments?

I will typically recommend coming in for treatments 2-3 times a week the first two to three weeks. Acupuncture treatments are most effective the more frequent they occur and this will lead us to the best results. Then we will re-evaluate your progress and decide if we can decrease to once a week. As your conditions improve then we switch to “maintenance mode” where patients may continue at every two weeks, once a month or as needed.

Does acupuncture hurt?

The needles used in acupuncture are very, thin and typically patients say acupuncture is painless. During the treatment, there may be sensations felt at the needles, such as, achiness, warmth, tingling, or a cooling sensation which is all normal and expected. If you do feel discomfort during the treatment, please communicate with me so I can make the appropriate adjustments.

What should I wear?

For the first visit, it is helpful to wear loose fitting clothing that you are able to move around in so we may complete a physical exam or look at your range of motion. For the treatments, the clinic has sheets/blankets that we can use to keep you comfortable.