Chinese medicine sees patterns in the body and does not look for a single disease. This is the greatest difference between Eastern and Western Medicine. Chinese medicine is a holistic medicine, it looks at how energy is interacting, and as a result can treat any complaint because people will always present with patterns. It does not matter how ingrained or difficult or confusing the symptoms may be, Chinese medicine will have an opinion on how to treat it.

Commonly Treated Conditions:  Pain conditions, hormonal imbalances, fertility, stress, depression/ anxiety, auto-immune disorders, trauma, addiction, digestive complaints, allergies and fatigue.

You can feel sensation but it should never be painful. Energy lives along the meridians and especially at the acupuncture points. When they are activated, you can feel this energy. Some report feelings of heaviness or fullness at the point, traveling sensations, warmth, or simply an awareness of something there. These sensations are all very normal and expected.

Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, the width of a hair, and acupuncturists are highly trained in insertion techniques to bypass any sense of pain with entry of the needle. However, for those that do not want to use needles, there are plenty of non-needle techniques that achieve the same results in a treatment.

The first visit will take 1½ – 2 hours. This includes a discussion of what health concerns you want to address, a full health history and an acupuncture treatment.

You should eat a light snack before coming, drink a little water, and wear clothes that are comfortable enough to come up above the knees and elbows. Most commonly used points are from the elbows and knees down.

Acupuncture naturally relaxes you and helps you reach a meditative state. Many people report feeling calm; less stress and less tension in their body.

Yes. Single use stainless steel needles are always used. Acupuncturists are exceptionally trained in the anatomy and physiology of the human body. We have thousands of hours of training, certifications for clean needle technique, CPR, and continue to take educational courses every year to meet licensing requirements. If you are a diplomat of Chinese Medicine, as I am, you are held to an even higher standard of educational requirements that include training in safety and ethics to maintain your certification.

This depends! I generally see my patients once a week for 6-12 weeks to treat their complaint. Once I meet you, assess you, see what patterns you have and how you respond to the first treatment, I will have a clearer idea of what timeframe your prognosis will fall into. This also greatly depends on how much effort you put forth to meet your own health goals. I will give you lifestyle and dietary recommendations and your ability to be consistent and to incorporate these suggestions will also play a role in recovery.

It is important to note that Chinese medicine is best used as a preventative medicine, to keep you well, support your constitution and connect you with your purpose. As such, I see people regularly even after their complaint has been treated. It keeps them well, balanced and achieving their highest goals.

Because of the overwhelming high quality research that continues to come out in support of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, more insurance companies are choosing plans that provide these benefits to members. I see the future becoming more integrated between East and West forms of healthcare. This would allow people to have a wider array of options to treat their ailments or to seek preventative healthcare.