Care
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses fine, single-use needles placed at points on the body, often together with a talk about how you sleep, eat and feel. Your acupuncturist chooses points from your pattern assessment, not from a fixed chart.
People come in for aches and stiffness, sleep and stress, digestion, and for a way to take care of themselves alongside their doctor's care. Some also come for an herbal formula; some come only for acupuncture.
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: A conversation
About 15 minutes on your health, your medicines and what you hope for. Bring your list of everything you take.
- 02
Step 2: Tongue and pulse
Your acupuncturist looks at your tongue and feels the pulse at both wrists, then explains what they plan.
- 03
Step 3: The needles
Needles go in at a handful of points, usually for 20 to 30 minutes, while you rest. Most people feel a brief pinch or a dull heaviness at a point. Tell us if anything feels sharp, and we adjust or stop.
- 04
Step 4: After
We talk about what to expect over the next day and, if it fits, whether a formula would help your plan. Fees come up before you leave, in writing.
What you may feel afterward
Sleepy or calm
Many people feel relaxed or sleepy for the rest of the day. Plan a quiet evening if you can.
A little sore
A point may feel tender, or a small mark may show where a needle was. It fades in a day or two.
Nothing at all
Some people notice little the first time. That is common, and we adjust the plan at your next visit.
Tell us first
Say so at the front desk or at the start of your visit.
Pregnancy
Some points are not used in pregnancy. Tell us if you are or might be pregnant.
Blood thinners
Medicines that thin your blood, or a bleeding disorder, change how we needle.
A pacemaker
Electro-stimulation is not used with a pacemaker or other implanted device.
Lymph node removal
We avoid needling the arm or leg on the side where nodes were removed.
Bleeding disorders
Tell us about any, so we can plan the points and the pressure.
Fear of needles
Say so at the start. We can begin with ear seeds or a short first treatment.
How many visits, and what this does not do
How many visits people plan for depends on how you respond and what you want from care. Your acupuncturist suggests a plan after the first visit, and you can change it at any time. Results vary from person to person.
Acupuncture does not replace your doctor's care. It can't tell you what is causing a symptom. If something is new, severe or getting worse, or if you have chest pain, trouble breathing or sudden weakness, see a doctor first or call 911.