Frequently Asked Questions:

“Does it hurt?”

Acupuncture needles are small, thin, and flexible - like a cat's whisker - and are inserted in a quick manner to facilitate patient comfort. Once a needle is inserted, it is common (and desirable) to feel some unique sensations such as warmth, spreading, or heaviness, in the vicinity of the needle. Most people find acupuncture to be very relaxing, and report being pleasantly surprised by how minimal the sensation is.

“How many needles are involved?”

It depends on the condition, but in general 8-12 bilateral points are used per treatment, some may be local to the body area of concern, and some farther away, usually a balanced point formula involves 1-2 points on the head, arms, legs, and sometimes several on the abdomen or back. 

“How should I prepare for my appointment?”

The day of your appointment, be sure to hydrate and eat a light meal. Wear loose comfortable clothing. If it is your first visit as a new patient, we encourage you to fill out your electronic paperwork at home prior to your appointment time if possible. 

“Will I have to continue to get treatments for a long time?”

An average course of care is 6-8 treatments, each treatment building on the last, to create a cumulative, longer-lasting shift in the body’s environment. Everyone is a little different in how quickly and significantly they respond to care, but we will work with you to re-assess your progress at each treatment, and modify your course of care as needed. The most benefit is gained from getting your first few treatments closer together (1-2x/week) to build momentum with repeated positive inputs before your body returns to its previous baseline. After notable progress is made, treatments may be spaced out to 2-3 weeks apart, and eventually 4-6 weeks apart. Many patients may be discharged at this point, while others prefer to stay on a routine maintenance schedule for “tune up” visits or preventative care. When working with women’s health/hormonal cycles, we typically like to see you 1-2x/month. 

“How long should I plan to be in the office for my acupuncture appointments?”

Allow 90 minutes for your initial appointment, and 60 minutes for your follow up visits. It may not always take that entire time, but we prefer to allow ample time to acquire a detailed health history and to understand any new concerns that may arise between appointments. Extended appointments are available for return patients which last 90 minutes and allow extra time to address more complex conditions if needed. Adjunctive modalities may be incorporated if deemed necessary and beneficial by the practitioner, upon discussion with the patient in an acupuncture appointment.