What to Expect

Initial Assessment

The first treatment is 90 minutes, allowing adequate time to discuss your chief complaint and health history plus receive a treatment. Chinese medicine considers the whole person, not just one isolated symptom. Therefore, all facets of health including sleep, emotion, nutrition and the organ systems are explored in the first visit. When put together, the myriad of signs and symptoms you are experiencing reveal patterns of disharmony and shed light the path to improved health.

A treatment plan will be decided on in the first visit, with clear goals for progress. Your treatment plan will describe the imbalance we will be working with, a general time life for treatment, and what kinds of treatment will be involved (ex. acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion). Dietary prescriptions, herbal prescriptions, lifestyle recommendations, and exercise or stretching guidelines may be given as part of the treatment plan. Often times the diet, exercise and lifestyle shifts are the most important facet of the treatment plan and path to optimal health.

Treatment

Follow up visits are 60 minutes and begin with a brief check in on symptoms and signs. Acupuncture needles are retained for 20-40 minutes depending on the nature of the issue. Most people experience a feeling of relaxation during the treatment and even fall asleep. Moxibustion and manual therapies including cupping, gua sha, massage or stretching are often used within a treatment.

After Treatment

  • Some people experience light headedness after acupuncture which resolves within 15 minutes with water and sitting up right.

  • Drink water after massage or acupuncture to help hydrate the tissues and facilitate cellular healing.

  • Soreness after manual therapy may occur for up to 48 hrs.

Methods to Aid Healing after Manual Therapy

  • Warm Epsom salt bath using 1-2 cups of EPSOM SALT x 20 minutes.

  • Calcium-Magnesium supplement provides a mild muscle relaxing effect and helps with muscle soreness

  • Contrast hydrotherapy – alternating hot and cold application to targeted areas increases local circulation and speeds tissue repair. 3 minutes of heat application followed by 1 minutes of cold. Repeat 3 -5 times ending with cold.

Course of Treatment

The number of treatments will vary from person to person. Acute injuries or more recent issues take fewer visits and benefit from treatment 2-3x/week for the first 2 weeks with 8-10 treatments total being sufficient. More chronic health challenges a require longer courses of treatment to make lasting change in the body. Treatment plans are created based on each person’s unique presentation and situation. Benefits should be evident within 3 visits. If benefits are not evident in the first 3 treatments, the treatment approach is reconsidered.

Preparing for your visit

  • Complete the new patient intake forms before your first visit to help make the best use of your time during the initial consultation.

  • Wear shorts or loose fitting pants that can easily raise above the knee. A sheet is used for draping if the upper leg, hip or shoulders need to be accessed for treatment.

  • It is good to eat a little before an acupuncture treatment.

  • Hydrate well before acupuncture or massage treatments