Initial Consultation
Please allow up to 60 minutes for your initial consultation. Your first visit will include a review of your medical history, a discussion about your health and ailments, education about the benefits and risks of acupuncture, and an acupuncture treatment. As part of your treatment, you may receive recommendations for herbal medicine and dietary advice. Subsequent visits will usually last 30 to 45 minutes. Each cosmetic acupuncture session usually lasts about 60 minutes. Please allow approximately 90 minutes for your initial consultation for fertility treatments. Fertility consultations include an evaluation of both partners, herbal consultation and often dietary advice - both partners are required to attent the initial consultation.
All patients are required to complete a Patient Consent Form. We receive the right to refuse treatment to any individual who does not adhere to our office policies.
Preparing for Acupuncture Treatment
Eat moderate meals before your sessions. Eating in excess or not at all can interfere with treatment. Plan your activities so that if you need to rest or just go slowly after treatment, you can do so. Also, be aware of your body. When you keep good mental or written notes of your responses to treatment, it’s helpful in treatment planning. What to Expect from Treatment First of all, you can expect the practitioner to do a full evaluation, which including taking your medical history, taking you pulse, observing you tongue and using palpation techniques to assess your condition. It is common to experience deep relaxation during an after acupuncture treatments. Also, while some patients require more rest or sleep after having their sessions, others feel more energized.
Number of Treatments Needed
The recommended course of treatment is generally proportionate to the length of time you have experienced your ailment or illness. Acute conditions generally require fewer sessions than chronic illnesses. For facial rejuvenation, the recommended course of treatments is 10 sessions. With your input, the practitioner can usually gauge the total number of treatments needed to resolve your specific complaint in about 2 or 3 sessions. After that time, the practitioner can make an educated assessment and tell you what to expect in the future. When seeking acupuncture treatments, patients are advised to have sessions at least once or twice a week, in order to achieve the desired results. Protracted and complex conditions may require frequent treatments over several months or more.
Side Effects to Treatment
Generally, there are no side effects to treatment. As the body rebalances, most patients feel better. As a result of this rebalancing, patients may experience changes in bowel movements, urination patterns, appetite, sleep or emotional states. Also, on occasion, the original symptoms can get worse for a day or two before getting better.
Different Styles of Acupuncture
Many different styles of acupuncture have arisen from different cultures all over Asia, while Europeans and Americans have adopted a variety of these traditions. Many acupuncturists also use techniques other than the insertion of needles. For example, acupuncture points may be stimulated using electrical stimulation or moxibustion. Moxa is an herb that is burned on or near the surface of the skin. Other tools include gua sha, cupping and herbal medicine.
Medications & Other Conventional Therapies
Only discontinue your medications and other therapies at the advice of your prescribing physician. People who want to decrease their use of pharmaceuticals can do so under the supervision of their M.D.
