What to expect
Please arrive 20 minutes early for your first appointment. We will ask you to fill out a few brief forms and review our Welcome Letter. If you wish, you may download our client forms, then print, fill them out and bring them with you to your first appointment.

Your acupuncturist will meet with you privately before your first treatment to discuss any concerns. The acupuncturist will also take your pulses, look at your tongue and ask a few questions. She will then set your acupuncture needles and leave you to rest.

Treatment will be performed in the community room, where you can choose any available recliner. The treatment space is a quiet area, where talking happens sparingly and in whisper. During your treatment, you can communicate with your acupuncturist by making eye contact to get their attention. Questions for your acupuncturist can be asked before or after your treatment. Your treatment may last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on your needs.

How often should I receive acupuncture?
For acupuncture to have a lasting affect, it is best to receive it frequently and often enough to result in progressive improvement in your health. Below are some basic guidelines that apply to most conditions:

If your problem is new    for example, back strain from recent overexertion, then you will experience the best benefit from multiple visits in a short period of time—two or three treatments in a week for a period of one or two weeks. By this time, your problem should be much better, and you and your practitioner can determine if further treatments are necessary.

If you have a long-term problem    it is usually best to start with a round of treatments close together (usually twice a week) for a period of time and then gradually decrease the frequency of treatments as your condition improves.

If you are seeking relief from uncontrollable events    then it is best to think of acupuncture as a tool for health maintenance. While acupuncture cannot change the fact that your life or job causes you stress, or that you sat next to someone with the flu on the bus, it can allow you to cope better by relieving the effects of stress and strengthening your body's natural resistance. During those times, come in once or twice a week, or as often as you need to alleviate the symptoms.

We believe that receiving frequent and regular treatments is the best way to achieve results with acupuncture.
We encourage this by offering a FREE second acupuncture treatment to new clients (must be used within 2 weeks of first visit).

Recommendations

• Within 3 hours of your appointment avoid caffeine and eat a light snack.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes that are easy to roll up to your elbows and knees.
• Please do not wear scented products.
• Feel free to bring whatever personal items you need to make yourself comfortable such as a favorite pillow, shawl or blanket, or earplugs to block the occasional snorer.
• It is a good idea to allow at least one to 1½ hours for your clinic visit and to have a bit of free time to relax and transition after you are done.
• For the first 12 to 24 hours after your treatment, please avoid strenuous activity and exposure to inclement weather while your body adjusts to the effects of acupuncture.
• Read How to Make Acupuncture Work, an excellent introduction to acupuncture by Diana Di Gioia, L.Ac.