1. The Interview Process: Including questions you may have not been asked before!
The initial interview is a time for me to get to know your chief complaint, the reason that brought you in! But it is also the time for me to get to know your health history, as well as a chance for me to ask some questions that seem to not be important to your chief complaint, but I promise they are all relevant! There will be questions about your sleeping patterns, many questions on your digestive function, and your emotional quality and stress level. None of these questions are meant to make you feel uncomfortable, and you have the right to skip over any question you don't want to answer, but these questions are only asked to best help you and give you the best treatment! And trust me I have heard it all so none of your answers can make me feel uncomfortable! TCM looks at you and your body as a whole so all functions and processes of it play a big role in helping it find a healthy balance.

2. Taking the pulse and observing the tongue:
These techniques are at the cornerstone of of Chinese medicine diagnosis. The pulse is felt at three postitions on the radial side of each wrist. With this type of pulse taking the practitioner can get to know your body and can feel for any imbalances in it. More questions may be asked at this time based on what is felt in the pulses. The tongue is another great way to diagnosis the body. Each section of the tongue relates to a different organ in traditional chinese medicine. We look at the overall tongure, coat, color, shape, and quality to further examin imbalances in the body.

Another quick note: before your appointment please do not brush or scrape your tongue, or eat highly colored foods or drink that chould change the color!

3. The Treatment:
The treatment will vary for each person and for each treatment. There are many ways to look at one issue in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and thus many ways to treat it. The treatment may be done while laying on your back or face down. There may be anywhere from 5-20 needles used during a treatment. Additional modalities such as Reiki, Cupping, Gua Sha, or Moxibustion may also be used. 

During the treatment you may have an emotional or a physical release. All of this is normal. Or you may fall into a deep meditative like sleep. But no matter what happens I will be near by if anything feel uncomfortable!

4. After the treatment:
People report many different experiences after acupuncture. Often it is something that I have termed an "acu-high." You may feel extremly relaxed, a bit spacey, and you should give yourself time to relax before driving or heading back to work. Make sure to drink alot of water after your treatment as well. The work of acupuncture can continue for several days after, but if you ever have any questions please feel free to call!

Acupuncture uses thin filiform needles which are inserted through the skin into strategic points on your body. It is most comonly used to treat pain, but can be used for so much more! In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) each point is chosen base on the local location, the meridian pathway, or the organ channel. In TCM it is sain that by using specific points on the body, the energy or life force can flow throughout your body to help your body find balance. Western practitioners describe the way acupuncture works in a more anatomical way. The western view is that when the needle is inserted there is a stimulation to the nerves, muscles, and connective tissues, and this stimulation can boost your bodies natural painkillers and increase blood flow.

Does it hurt?
This is one of the most common questions that as an acupuncture practitioner I get asked. And the answer is not a simple yes or no. No, it probably doesn't hurt in the way you think inserting a needle into your skin would feel. Do to the needles very thin size it does not feel like it does when you get a shot or give blood. But ofter there is a sensation that you get after a needle is inserted. This is a sensation in TCM we call "da qi," it can range from a burning, aching, dull, heavy, or cool sensation. But some patients may experience slight pain other than the "da qi" sensation. Certain points on the body may be more sensitive than other, but there should never be unbearable pain during an acupuncture treatment.

What can it treat?
Some general issues acupuncture can treat are: allergies, asthma, sinusitis, headaches, TMJ, back pain, sciatica, musculoskeletal problems, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, depression, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, addictions, indigestion, constipation and more. It is also great for many women's and men's health issues. But, acupuncture is not just for when you have a problem, acupuncture is great for preventitive health, such as stress management, wellness or just a seasonal attunement.