Our initial session together is where I learn all about you; not just your medical history, but you as a person. Once all the data is gathered and your assessment is complete, we will move into your initial treatment. Below are some helpful suggestions for how to prepare for your visit and what you can expect. 

Please avoid drinking coffee the day of your visit. 

Avoid brushing or scraping your tongue on the day of your appointment. 

Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing. If the weather is warm, shorts and dresses are ideal as they allow access to the abdomen and legs. In the cooler months, wear whatever you need to feel comfortable. You will have the opportunity to change out of any layers and be covered with a towel or sheet prior to receiving Acupuncture. 

Remember to submit your paperwork early and bring in any relevant lab results that you would like to discuss. 

The initial assessment begins with us having an in depth discussion of why you are seeking Acupuncture? After you have had the chance to explain your concerns and any other therapies that you have received, we will get to discussing your medical history. At this point, I will ask you all of the questions that I need to assess what is happening within in your body, through the lens of Chinese Medicine. It is likely that I will ask you more than any practitioner has ever asked you before. We will discuss all areas of the body as well as menstrual cycles (if applicable), nutrition, sleep, emotional/mental health, lifestyle and more. 

Once we have wrapped up with the consultation, I will check your pulse and tongue. This is why I ask that you not scrape or brush your tongue on the day of your visit. Not doing so allows me to see an accurate representation of your tongue, which says a lot to me from a Chinese Medicine perspective. 

You will have the opportunity to use the restroom at anytime throughout the consultation and prior to receiving the Acupuncture. Once you are ready, the treatment can begin. 

Once you are ready, I will ask you to lay down on the massage table (which I do my best to make very comfortable for all bodies). We will adjust any items of clothing to allow access to the areas that are needed for treatment (usually arms, legs, hands, feet, abdomen or back). The head and ears may also be used. You will always be draped or otherwise covered to your comfort level and modesty preferences. 

At this point, the Acupuncture will begin. I will open sterilized packages of disposable needles and begin to insert them in the Acupuncture points that I feel are best suited for our goals for that session. 

Acupuncture needles are very thin and flexible. They don’t feel like any other needle you may have ever received (much smaller than hypodermic needles used for blood work and even thinner than most needles used for tattoos). You can expect to have different sensations with the Acupuncture. You may feel numbness, heaviness, buzzing, warming or even electrical sensations. Most people liken the initial pinch of the needle to the sensation of a mosquito bite. Some people feel absolutely nothing. All of these sensations are completely normal. In the majority of cases, if you feel any of them, the sensations are brief and dissipate after the needle has settled in its position. Occasionally, there might be some tender areas in which the sensation may be more obvious but it should not impair you from being able to relax. 

After all the needles are in (you can expect as few as 4 to as many as 25, all depends on your assessment and comfort level), you can just relax and take a little nap for approximately 30-45 minutes. Remember that the needles are flexible so they are designed to ebb with your body. If you relax and your feet roll slightly outward or your hands slide off your body and onto the treatment table, that is perfectly ok. In most cases, a heat lamp will be placed over your abdomen, back or feet for therapeutic purposes but also for warmth and comfort. 

If you prefer I leave you to rest, I will set a call button near your hand or within comfortable reach, that you may use at any time. Pressing the button buzzes me on a pager and lets me know that you would like me to check in on you. 

If you prefer to not be left alone during the resting phase, I am more than happy to sit in the room with you. We can further discuss any concerns you have or any sensations you experienced. Alternatively, I can just sit there, in the quiet, if that is what makes you comfortable. 

Once the appropriate time has elapsed, the needles will be gently removed and disposed of. Removing the needles usually causes very little, if any, sensations. 

You should be feeling relaxed, and it is possible to feel a little disoriented, similar to how someone feels after a relaxing massage. It is important to take your time getting up from the treatment table slowly and taking a minute to gather your senses. 

Once you are ready, you are free to carry on with your day as you normally would. 

I highly suggest not exercising after your first Acupuncture session or engaging in any intense activities, until you know how your body reacts to the treatment. For some, they are super energized and feel like tackling their to-do list. For others, they feel really relaxed and prefer to be cozy and rest for the remainder of the day. 

Either way, it is highly recommended that you hydrate with electrolyte water and have a healthy meal to fuel your body’s healing capabilities. Most people have a really restful night of sleep when they have received Acupuncture that day. 

If the purpose of your session was to address a particular pain, it is possible to still have some pain after your treatment, or for the nature of the pain to change, before it begins to improve. It may take several days for your treatment to “unfold” and for you to begin noticing any differences. It is also important to note that Acupuncture is not a one-time-fix-all solution. It is a process worthy of your commitment in order to achieve the best results.  

Within 48 hours, you should receive a follow up email from me with a recap of all that was discussed during your consultation along with any recommendations that work towards achieving your health goals. Treatment frequency and regularity will be discussed during your session and/or noted in the email. The most common recommendation is to receive Acupuncture once a week for approximately 12-16 weeks. This will vary tremendously on a person by person basis depending on the progress each individual makes and the goals each individual has. 

That sums up what it is like to have an initial evaluation with me. Follow up visits generally consist of a brief consultation in which we discuss any changes, challenges and updates from the previous visit and then jump into the Acupuncture portion. Over time, most patients come to really look forward to their “Acu Nap”. Some really enjoy listening to a meditation, podcast or audiobook during their sessions. This is encouraged so long as it helps you relax and the volume doesn’t disturb others. Remember that the whole point of the session is to place your body in a state of “rest and digest” so that it can focus on healing.