What can I expect during an Acupuncture treatment?
The initial acupuncture treatment generally takes between 45 to 60 minutes and consists of a comprehensive medical history, examination and customized acupuncture treatment. Follow up appointments usually last between 20 to 30 minutes. Between 2-20 needles may be used during the course of a treatment and are typically left in for 15-45 minutes depending on the chief complaint and individual’s constitution. After the needles are removed, a treatment plan will be determined, and recommendations will be made on how to get the most out of your treatment.

Does Acupuncture hurt?
Most of the time people do not feel the insertion of the needle into the skin. Occasionally, people may feel a sensation like a mosquito bite that disappears very quickly. Once the needle is in, you may feel nothing at all, or you may feel sensations such as warmth, a dull ache, heaviness, tingling, heaviness, or a “moving” sensation. This is usually felt only for a short period of time, or if the practitioner is manipulating or stimulating the needle. These are sensations of the needle connecting with your Qi. Many people find acupuncture to be very relaxing, and even fall asleep during the treatments. Dr. Hall is very skilled and will make your acupuncture session very pleasant and relaxing.

What are the Acupuncture needles like?  
Acupuncture needles are very thin, solid and made from stainless steel. They are 25-50 times thinner than a hypodermic needle and the point is smooth and rounded rather than hollow. Only sterile, disposable needles are used so there is no risk of infection.

What other types of modalities are used?

• Gua Sha: Gentle scraping or scrubbing of skin/soft tissue using Gua sha tool. It increases Qi and blood circulation while relaxing stiff, tense, over-used, adhesive, and knotted or spasmodic muscles.
• Tui-Na/Acupressure: Massage technique which stimulates the Meridians. This facilitates Qi flow, increases Qi and blood circulation while relaxing stiff, tense, over-used, and knotted or spasmodic muscles.
• Cupping: This technique uses glass cups to create a vacuum on the the surface of the skin. It increases warmth, Qi and blood flow while relaxing stiff, tense, over-used, and knotted or spasmodic muscles.
• Moxibustion (Moxa): This technique uses dried mugwort leaf, rolled into a stick. It helps stimulates and warms the Meridians while increasing Qi and blood circulation.
• Electro-acupuncture: Acupuncture point stimulation using a safe, gentle, pulsating electrical current to the acupuncture needles to stimulate the acupoints. This assures the amount of stimulation needed to promote the flow of Qi and blood while reducing pain and muscle spasm. This technique is also used in helping patients with paralysis and/or neurological diseases.
• Chinese Herbal Medicine: Herbal medicine that draws from a pharmacopoeia of thousands of herbs for specific conditions. They are individualized according to conditions and are gentle and safe. They help restore and maintain daily health balance and increase healing potentials with combinations of acupuncture.

How many visits do I need?
Acupuncture treatments work cumulatively. The number of visits depends on the intensity and origin of the imbalance.
Acute problems (lasting 3 months or less) are generally treated more often for less time (6 to12 visits, 2-3 times a week).
Chronic illnesses or internal problems require 10 or more visits 2-3 times a week. Then the course of treatment may be repeated for another 10-12 visits, 1-2 times a week. (For difficult cases).

What should I wear?
You should dress comfortably, such as shorts & t-shirts or yoga pants.

Is there a treatment plan?

• Level 1: Pain Relief and Energetic Balancing
If you’re in pain when you come to our office, the first objective is to relief the pain, so you can feel better. Depending on the severity of your problem, it is typical to need care 2-3 times per week for 2-4 weeks.
• Level 2: Energy Flow Correction
During this Acupuncture stage, the body, its meridians, and internal organ energetic flow adjusts and makes a habit of being reinforced by repeated Acupuncture treatments. Muscles, tendons and internal organs get proper circulation of energy and blood while laying a healthy foundation for the long term.  The patients normally comes 1 time a week for a period of 4-12 times depending on severity and condition of the client.
• Level 3:  Wellness & Prevention.
Once your body has fully healed, it is important to come in for periodic energetic “tune ups” to avoid problems in the future and in order to maintain a healthy and productive body. Usually, treatments at this phase are administered 1 to 2 times a month.

When there is a change of seasons, Acupuncture should be administered 2 times a week for 2 weeks. Seasonal tune ups help our body cope with shifting energy from one organ to the other. For example: Winter in Chinese Medicine is associated with Kidneys. Spring is associated with Liver etc.

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