Faq’s

In Chinese medical theory, acupuncture works by balancing the body’s Qi. Qi can be described as a form of bioenergy that runs along meridians. If Qi gets blocked, it shows up as an imbalance or illness. Basically, if you have a health condition, some part of your body’s system is out of harmony. Chinese medical theory allows us to diagnose the imbalance… and balance it.

One benefit to acupuncture is that it is a drug-free way to optimize health. With drugs, people often develop a tolerance, or the need for an increased dosage to achieve the same required effect. However, this does not happen with acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture allows the doctor to immediately examine a person's response to the treatment and adjust it if necessary. Lastly, there are no addictive effects like with pharmaceuticals.

No, the needles do not hurt. In fact, most people barely feel anything when needles are inserted. Some people feel a slight tap at insertion, and others have responded with “I didn't feel anything”. Acupuncture needles are solid, flexible, and very, very thin.

During the first treatment the practitioner will take a complete health history and establish a complete evaluation of the condition you are seeking treatment for and ask you questions about lifestyle, not only for the condition you are being treated. The practitioner will feel your pulse, look at your tongue and may palpate specific meridians to look for tender areas. The initial treatment lasts 1.5 hours, and all subsequent treatment are for 1 hour.

When people come in for the first time, they aren’t sure how long they should stay and rest with the needles in. We often tell our patients to lay for about 30 minutes for the treatment to take effect. Resting with the needles in longer doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a better treatment or more benefit from the treatment. However, if you are in a restful state, feel free to stay as long as your appointment allows The body heals best when it is resting!

Results always vary from person to person because there are many factors that contribute to treatment outcomes. Some of those factors include: how long you’ve had the condition, how severe it is, and most importantly, how your lifestyle is at home. Many people notice changes immediately, while other people may take longer. But as a general rule, significant and lasting improvements are noticed after repeated treatments. Acupuncture is meant to be a practice that you incorporate regularly.

Come in with any & all questions; they are encouraged so you feel relaxed during your treatment and comfortable with your treatment plan.​Avoid large meals immediately before the treatment, but don’t come on an empty stomach. Be open to healing and able to set time aside for yourself to relax.

Wear loose comfortable clothing that can be easily rolled up to the elbows and knees. We will also likely need access to wherever your pain is.

Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and can help relieve many pregnancy and postpartum conditions. Because there are some acupuncture points that are contraindicated during pregnancy it is important to inform the practitioner if you are pregnant. We highly recommend acupuncture during your first trimester to help assist embryo development, prevent miscarriage, and address any other symptoms that may arise.