Your first visit
Our first session, usually an hour and a half, provides me with an opportunity to get to know you and to review your health history. Because symptoms may be interrelated, a seemingly unimportant detail may shed light on the root cause(s) of your condition. Because diet, exercise and stress all have strong impacts on health, we will discuss reasonable modifications that fit your lifestyle. If you are taking supplements, I can help with suggestions regarding their effectiveness. Together, we’ll decide on an initial treatment plan.
The acupuncture experience.
Most of my sessions begin with a back massage to calm the nervous system and locate areas of muscular tension. Then, using a gentle insertion technique, I place extremely fine, sterilized, disposable needles into therapeutic points. Clients are pleasantly surprised that the needles are barely perceptible.
Treatment rooms are warm and filled with soothing music. Clients experience a profound sense of tranquility during a treatment. It’s not unusual to fall into a deep sleep.
While some practitioners treat either the front or the back of the body during a session, my approach is to treat both. I have found this full body treatment to be more relaxing and healing.
Other techniques used during a session.
I occasionally use electrical stimulation which feels like a gentle, hypnotic pulsing. I may also use moxibustion, a heated incense stick that brings warmth and circulation to an area. Both are beneficial in easing pain or strengthening a particular organ system. Cupping and Gua Sha are also used to relieve muscle tension and improve blood flow to capillaries.
Finally, in most every treatment, I incorporate Jin Shin Jyutsu, a type of acupressure, to enhance the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.
How often will I need to come in?
As part of your first visit, we will discuss a proposed course of treatment. Generally, acute conditions of recent onset may require only one or two sessions. Chronic conditions ordinarily require a longer protocol to be effective.
The frequency of treatments varies with each individual. Coming in soon after the onset of a condition improves the chances of a quick recovery. Consistency is also important, not only for acupuncture to be effective, but also to establish new habits and awareness regarding your health. Proactively, many of my clients make an appointment when they feel their immune system needs a boost or if they are going through a particularly stressful period.
Feel free to call me to discuss your concerns and a possible plan of treatment.
How do I get the most out of each session?
It’s best not to come in on an empty stomach. Ideally, eat a medium size protein and carbohydrate meal an hour before your session. Avoid greasy, fried, or spicy foods that may cause stomach upset. It’s important to avoid caffeine for at least two hours before your treatment.
Give yourself at least a half hour to relax after your session. You may want to take a walk, or read, or have something to eat. By avoiding intense physical activity, you will maximize the treatment’s therapeutic effects.
How will I feel after a session?
Almost without exception, clients experience a deep sense of calm. It is not uncommon to feel tired after the first two sessions while the body's metabolism is adjusting. This stage is followed by renewed energy and clarity.
Individual responses to treatments vary. Quite often, there will be immediate relief, but as with any healing, improvement tends to be cumulative. Rarely, there may be a mildly uncomfortable flare up after a treatment, which generally subsides within 24 hours.