Appointment Types
The following treatment types are offered and can be booked online or by phone.
Acupuncture Initial Visit: The initial visit consists of a review of the history of the present illness, past medical history, physical exam, diagnosis and treatment. This visit is 75-90 minutes in length depending on complexity. Other therapies such as moxabustion, cupping, and dietary recommendations may be included as needed.
Acupuncture Follow Up Visit: Follow-up visits begin with assessment of progress since the previous visit, treatment plan modifications if needed, and follow through on the treatment strategy using acupuncture and related therapies.
Herbal Initial Consultation: Chinese herbal prescriptions require a consultation to provide accurate individualized treatment. Prescription refills do not require another consultation.
Herbal Re-evaluation: Prescriptions must be re-evaluated every 2 months minimum. If your condition has resolved completely, gotten worse, or changed markedly please schedule a re-evaluation at minimal cost.
Needleless Treatment: Many people are afraid of acupuncture needling before trying it. Usually, all the anxiety is gone after the first needle or two. Most people feel only slight discomfort and can relax deeply once the needles are placed. Nevertheless, for those who are highly sensitive or anxious about needles, other therapies such as acupressure, moxabustion, cupping and others can be applied to treat the body.
Treatment Course
You are invited to use acupuncture and Chinese medical services based on your personal needs, resources and schedule. Bear in mind that in general, the longer a conditions has persisted, the longer it will take to resolve. Each condition requires a different amount and frequency of care. If you are suffering from a chronic problem, you are encouraged to complete a course of 4-8 treatments for enduring relief or correction of a problem. Acute conditions, those less than 2 weeks old, are often resolved in one or two visits.
Most conditions, especially pain, will show improvement after the first or second visit. In fact, many feel pain relief soon after treatment starts. This promotes confidence that the therapy is working.
Services Offered
Chinese Medicine consists of much more than just acupuncture. In fact, clients can benefit from a variety of therapies. Here is an overview:
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is the placement of hair-thin needles into specific locations called acupoints. Its function is to adjust the body’s energy flow, to balance temperature and moisture, to detoxify, and to regulate organ and tissue function.
Moxabustion: Moxabustion is applied by burning the herbal medicine mugwort above specific acu-points. It is a non-needle treatment whose function is to strengthen the body’s organs and tissues.
Chinese Herbal Formulas: Chinese herbal formulas are a combination of plants mineral and some animal products that are combined based on one’s individual condition and body constitution. They must be taken at the prescribed dosage and treatment duration, usually 2 weeks to 2 months. Chinese herbs often allow faster improvement by complementing external acupuncture treament with internal herbal treatment.
Qi Gong: Qi Gong is a simple movement therapy that promotes the free flow and generation of energy in the body. Basic forms can be taught in 15-20 minutes.
Tui Na: Tui Na is therapeutic massage using vigorous pulling, pushing and percussive techniques to release muscle tension and mobilize the limbs and joints.
Diet and Lifestyle Counseling: Chinese medical diagnosis is based on analyzing the body’s constitution. By understanding what organs and tissues are imbalanced, one can use specific foods and lifestyle adjustments to promote health. To this end, individualized dietary and lifestyle recommendations can be given.
Cupping: Cupping is performed by creating a vacuum under cups made of various materials which are placed on specific areas to stop pain by promoting blood circulation.
Gua Sha: Gua Sha is the use of a porcelain spoon-like object which is rubbed on the neck and shoulders to stop pain and promote blood circulation.