What To Expect

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We provide community acupuncture. You’ll get a personalized treatment in a quiet room filled with big, comfy recliners, and you’ll be in good company. It’s a little like a group nap.

Your first visit

When you come for your first visit, we’ll spend a little time talking about what you need help with and going over your health history. Then we’ll make a plan for how often and for how long you should come. There’s a small amount of paperwork for new patients. Come in a few minutes early to fill it out prior to your appointment.

How it goes

On a typical visit, you’ll check in at the front desk, pay for your treatment and schedule your next appointment. Then you’ll turn off your cell phone, quietly head into the treatment room and find your favorite chair. (It’s good to have a second favorite chair, just in case.) Then you’ll take off your shoes and socks, roll your sleeves up to the elbow and your pants up to the knee and get comfy. You and your acupuncturist will talk briefly in whispers and then you’ll get your needles – mostly on your arms, hands, legs, feet, ears and the top of your head.

Afraid of needles? Don’t worry, these needles aren’t like any you’ve met before. They are very small, solid, about the width of a hair.

Most people find their treatment very relaxing. In fact, the majority of folks fall asleep. You can keep your needles in as long as you want. The right amount of time varies from person to person, but most patients learn after a few treatments when they feel “done.” Usually, it’s somewhere between 30 minutes and 60 minutes. We check on everyone regularly – just give us a stare when you are ready. You can also let us know ahead of time if you want to be up at a particular time.

Acupuncture is a process

Lots of people begin to feel the benefits of acupuncture right away, but you most likely won’t have all of your symptoms disappear overnight. Acupuncture works by stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal, and this is usually a gradual process. Most of us need a series of treatments to get good results. We’ll recommend a plan for the number and frequency of treatments we think you’ll need and then check with you to see how you are responding.

Other little things

  • We keep the treatment room at a comfortable temperature, but feel free to bring a small blanket or throw if you tend to get chilly while resting.
  • Snoring is music to our ears and we’ve come to like the train whistle, but if noises keep you from relaxing, you are welcome to bring earplugs or headphones.
  • Patients with allergies will appreciate it if you don’t wear perfume or cologne.
  • If you are hard of hearing or need help getting in and out of your chair, or come across any other barriers, please let us know! We are happy to make adjustments to accommodate your needs.