New Patients
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Many first-time patients are concerned that acupuncture needles will feel like hypodermic injections at the doctor’s office. They won’t. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, flexible needles that you most patients hardly feel.
When I gently stimulate the needles they may produce a unique sensation that Oriental medicine calls de qi. Patients often describe de qi as a heavy, achy pressure, or spreading, traveling feeling. You may also feel an “electrical” sensation moving down the meridian pathways, though this is less common. Many patients are so relaxed, they even fall asleep during their treatments.
How many treatments will I need?
It depends. The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative, so more then one treatment is necessary for deeper conditions. For acute conditions you can expect to have fewer treatments; you will usually begin to feel relief in one to three sessions. Chronic conditions may take longer to respond, depending on the type, severity, and duration of the condition.
Preventative treatments and treatments for general well-being may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis. Traditionally, acupuncture is received at the beginning of each season to maintain good health.
What will my first appointment look like?
When you arrive for your first acupuncture appointment you will receive an online comprehensive intake form. The acupuncture intake form asks questions about your current state of health, past illnesses, and family history. These questions are important because the holistic approach of Oriental medicine takes everything into account. Your current symptoms may not seem related to past health issues, but our bodies are complex landscapes and everything that happens to them leaves its mark.
After reviewing your intake form, we will discuss your condition, and I will examine your pulses and tongue, which are two of the basic diagnostic methods of Oriental medicine. The acupuncture points I choose will depend on your condition, but you can expect 10-20 needles. Once the needles are inserted, I will leave you to lie comfortably for 15-30 minutes with the needles in place. Many people find acupuncture treatments deeply relaxing, and it is not uncommon for patients to fall asleep during this time.