What to expect during your first appointment...

In a typical first visit, we will take a detailed health history, fully investigate your chief complaint, and provide an acupuncture treatment for you.  This may take up to two hours, but is neccessary to create an individualized treatment plan that takes into account your present physical, emotional, and nutritional condition, while focusing on your main health concerns.   

In addition to the intitial health history intake, we look for patterns of imbalances through pulse diagnosis, by observing the patient's tongue and overall appearance and complexion.  Often the questions asked by the practitioner may not seem related to the chief complaint; however, Chinese medicine has a different way of looking at the body and diagnosing than does modern allopathic medicine.

What is Acupuncture?

Although comparatively new in this country, acupuncture is an ancient system of healing.  Practiced for over 2,500 years in china, acupuncture’s historical evidence has proven to be a remarkably effective therapeutic modality.  It is a safe, drug-free therapy using very fine needles which are inserted into specific acupuncture points.      

Ancient Chinese texts refer to Qi (pronounced “chee”) as the vital energy or life force basic to the universe and every human being.  It may be likened to electromagnetic force.  Qi flows regularly throughout the body along defined pathways, or meridians.  Chinese medicine works to move and regulate the Qi towards equilibrium conceptualizing sickness as “imbalance” rather than “disease”.  Good health and vitality are maintained when this flow is smooth and unrestricted.  Thus the goal of acupuncture is to restore balance in the flow of Qi, using the body’s natural healing system.  
 
The advantage of working with the body in this manner is that acupuncture is successful in the treatment as well as the prevention of many medical conditions.  In the West, acupuncture has been misleadingly publicized as helpful only for specific conditions related to pain.  However, because acupuncture addresses the body's innate healing ability, it is effective in treating the cause of a wide variety of conditions.   

The effect of acupuncture is to do more than palliate symptoms.  It is directed at restoring energy balance which results in greater enjoyment of life, increased vigor, better sleep, normal appetite, more regular elimination, and an overall sense of well-being.  This approach, where the whole person is treated, is referred to as Classical Acupuncture.  It is a homeostatic approach thus free of side effects.

Acupuncture is for all ages and most conditions

People of all ages, including children, and from all walks of life seek acupuncture to treat a specific symptom or condition.  Acupuncture is also used in conjunction with conventional medicine.  In addition, a growing number of people are taking a more active role in maintaining their health, and turn to acupuncture as a form of preventative care.  Over the past twenty five years, the acceptance of acupuncture by both scientists and patients, has grown exponentially in the U. S.  It has been estimated that by 1993, over 15 million Americans had experienced acupuncture treatment.  The numbers have been steadily increasing as acupuncture gains popularity.  Contact us is you would like to know if acupuncture is a healthy option for you.