faq

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

To make an appointment, click on the "REQUEST APPOINTMENT" button found in this website. This will direct you to another page, prompting you to create an account with our HIPAA-compliant electronic health record software, Unified Practice. New patients must request an "Initial Consultation - Acupuncture" treatment for their first visit.

Upon creating an account, you will then gain access to the clinic calendar where you can choose your appointment date and time. You will receive an appointment confirmation via email containing prompts to complete your onboarding and consent forms. We encourage you to complete these forms prior to your appointment to maximize treatment time.

PREPARING FOR YOUR TREATMENT

YOUR FIRST VISIT

Your first visit will include a consultation and complete evaluation prior to treatment. This includes discussing your current condition, past medical history, and an examination of your tongue and pulse. A TCM diagnosis and treatment plan will be discussed with you, which will drive the course of care and treatment. Your first visit will last for 1.5 hours.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY TREATMENT?

• eat a small at least 1-2 hours before your treatment

• wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the knees, elbows, and abdomen

• avoid brushing your tongue

• avoid drinking stimulants such as coffee

MEDICATIONS/MEDICAL DEVICES

Prior to treatment, patients must seek the advice of their Primary Care Physician (PCP) and inform their acupuncture practitioner any of the following:

• If you are pregant or expecting.

• If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants. Whether you have a bleeding disorder.

• If you are taking anti-coagulants or any other medication.

• If you have damaged heart valves or have any other particular risk of infection.

YOUR FOLLOW-UP VISIT

Unless there are any developments or new chief complaints, your follow-up visit will follow the treatment plan set during intake. Your current condition will always be taken into consideration during the treatment, making it truly personal. Follow-up treatments usually lasts for 45 minutes to an hour.

TREATMENT FREQUENCY

The number of treatments will vary from person to person. Some people experience immediate relief; other may take months or even years to achieve results. Chronic conditions usually take longer to resolve than acute ones. Plan on a minimum of a month to see significant changes.

AFTER YOUR TREATMENT

After an Acupuncture treatment, it is possible, but uncommon, that you may experience tenderness, minor bleeding and/or bruising at the needle sites.There are occasions where the original symptoms may worsen for a short period of time before relief settles in and improvements in sleep, bowels, appetite and your emotional state is a common occurrence. These are often simple indications that the treatment is beginning to work and your body is beginning to re-establish homeostasis and balance as it adjusts to each treatment.

IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?

When performed by a competently trained, licensed Oriental Medicine Practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe. All licensed acupuncturists (L.Ac.) undergo rigorous training, requiring at least 1800 hours of instructional training at the master and doctorate level, at least 450 hours of herbal studies, over 1200 hours of clinical training, and pass 4 national board exams to obtain state licensure. Acupuncture is performed using individually packaged, sterile, disposable needles, which eliminates the chances of cross contamination.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?

Acupuncture needles are typically not much thicker than a single strand of hair, and their insertion is practically painless. It is nothing like receiving an ordinary injection. In some cases, you will not even know the needles are in place. In others, there may be some tingling, warmth, heaviness, or a feeling of the qi moving up and down the channels. Most people find acupuncture extremely relaxing, and many fall asleep during treatment.

ACUPUNCTURE FAQ

HOW LONG IS THE TREATMENT?

Your Initial treatment will last for 1.5 hours, which includes a comprehensive intake and an acupuncture treatment. This may include a supplemental modality i.e, cupping, e-stim, depending on your condition. Follow-up treatments will be 45 minutes for traditiona acupuncture, and 1 hour for acupuncture coupled with a supplemental treatment i.e. cupping or e-stim.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS DO I NEED?

The number of treatments ultimately depends on your particular case. For acute conditions, it takes at least 6 treatments (2x/week) before patients start to see results. Chronic conditions tend to take longer; some patients begin to see results for as little as 12 treatments (2x/week) or longer, between 3-6 months to see significant results. The key to achieving results is consistency in treatment. After symptoms have resolved and condition becomes manageable, the goal is for you to see the value of acupuncture as part of your self-care routine to maintain vitality and a sense of well-being. At this point, you can be seen weekly, or twice a month.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY TREATMENT?

eat a small at least 1-2 hours before your treatment wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the knees, elbows, and abdomen avoid brushing your tongue and avoid drinking stimulants such as coffee Apart from the usual medical details, it is important to let your practitioner know: If you are pregnant or expecting. If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants. Whether you have a bleeding disorder. If you are taking anti-coagulants or any other medication. If you have damaged heart valves or have any other particular risk of infection

WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?

Herbal medicine is the art and science of using plants to support health and wellness. Practiced since the beginning of time, herbal medicine has persisted as the world's primary form of medicine with a written history dating back more than 5,000 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), large sections of the population in developing countries still rely on traditional practitioners and medicinal plants for their primary care. In America, 50 percent or more adults use herbal and dietary supplements on a regular basis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

It is important not to self-prescribe and instead, consult a licensed herbalist to support your health and wellness goals as some herbs may be contraindicated to your pre-existing medication.

HERBAL THERAPY FAQ

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE HERBS WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?

Yes, in certain instances, depending on the drugs and the herbs that are involved. While drug/herbal safety is addressed on a case by case basis, there are general principles that are followed. Certain classes of herbs are to be avoided with certain classes of drugs. For instance, herbs known as blood moving are to be avoided with blood thinning drugs such as coumadin, because their similar effects could create too strong of an effect. We are conservative when recommending herbs to patients taking prescription drugs. If there is any reason to suspect a negative drug/herb interaction, we will forego prescribing herbs and address the patient’s health condition in other ways, such as acupuncture, and dietary counseling.

HOW ARE HERBS DIFFERENT FROM PHARMACEUTICALS?

Most pharmaceutical drugs are synthesized chemicals engineered to target very specific biological processes. Herbal preparations are made with fresh or dried plants and contain hundreds to thousands of interrelated and active compounds known as phytochemicals. Over the last 30 years, science has demonstrated that the safety and effectiveness of herbs are often related to the synergy of the whole plant’s many constituents. Pharmaceutical manufacturers often focus on isolating one active constituent, or active compound, from a plant while herbalists and phytotherapists use the full spectrum of the plant (medicinal part of root flower, leaf, aerial part, etc.) to support healthy function of the body. One of the challenges with pharmaceuticals is that the drugs can be difficult for the body to process, which in turn causes unwanted, adverse side effects, many of which may be as much of a problem as the original condition.

DURING THE TREATMENT

During treatment, your practitioner will ask you where your muscle pain and tension is. You'll then be asked to take your clothes off and lie down on the treatment. Once you're comfortable and ready to begin, the practitioner will place the cups on the painful areas that you advised the practitioner of. The cups will create a vacuum, which feels like the inverse of a massage, which kneads into the muscle. The cups will be left stationary on the problem area. Depending on your comfort level, your practitioner may perform slide cupping to finish off the treatment. Your practitioner will wipe off any oil, or residue left on the skin. You can then put your clothes back on as the treatment has finished. It's good to drink plenty of water after treatment as toxins once held in the muscles are released back into the body and need to be flushed out through the urine.

CUPPING THERAPY FAQ

SELF-CARE POST-CUPPING

In order to ensure a speedy recovery, we recommend the following:

• After a cupping session it is best not to shower at least 60 minutes post-treatment. Avoid drastic temperature fluctuations, it is best to do a quick shower using warm water and and avoid any chemicals such as shampoo or conditioner for the first 24 hours so that we can limit the toxin absorption

• Stay hydrated in order to expedite the detoxification process

• Have a good nutritious meal that is high in fiber. Fiber has an amazing ability of latching onto stray toxins and escorting them straight out of the body.

• Avoid eating dense, greasy, heavy meals like red meat or dairy 24 hours after your session as these foods take a lot of energy to aid digestion, when the energy should be used for recuperation instead.

CUPPING CONTRAINDICATIONS

Cupping is not appropriate for those with: skin inflammation, ulcers, and lesions, edema, varicose veins, convulsions, hemophilia or spontaneous bleeding. Those under the age of 6 and over 70 years should take precaution with cupping as the skin can be more sensitive to this healing therapy. Pregnant women should avoid cupping on the abdomen and lower back throughout their pregnancy.

CUPPING MARKS ARE NORMAL

It is best to see a licensed professional with advanced training for this therapy as an inexperienced practitioner may produce burns, blisters or scarring. Circular marks, similar in appearance to a hickey, may remain for several days after a session. This is normal and is a great indicator that deep stagnation was present. The level of stagnation (see left picture) will be indicated by the depth of color. Chronic injuries will likely require multiple sessions. Each subsequent session should produce lighter markings, indicating that the deep stagnation is dispersing, circulation is improving, and fresh blood and oxygen are able to nourish the area.

DURING THE TREATMENT

The area to be treated is lubricated with oil or balm. Gua sha feels like firm, steady, stroking pressure against the skin. The area to be treated is press-stroked in one direction with a round-edged instrument until the petechiae are completely raised.

The goal with Gua sha is to releases unhealthy bodily matter from stagnant blood within sore, tired, or injured muscles. As a result of the cellular micro-truama, the body sends new, oxygen rich blood flow to the areas, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing, and reduced recovery time. As a result, you should expect to feel relief in the area. Although the red color of “sha” can be surprising the first time you see it, when done appropriately the practice of gua sha is safe and non-invasive.

GUA SHA FAQ

SELF-CARE POST-GUA SHA

In order to ensure a speedy recovery, we recommend the following:

• Avoid exposure to the wind, drafts, direct sun, and cold for at least 24 hours, preferably until the sha is gone!

• Keep the area well covered and warm. If activity has been reduced due to pain or stiffness, and feels better after gua sha, build up the activity level slowly to prevent re-injury and to rebuilt strength and mobility.

• Avoid large quantities of cold, sour, or salty foods and drinks after gua sha treatment. From a Chinese dietary therapy perspective, cold stagnates and congeals the qi, worsening pain! Sour foods contribute to nervousness and increase pain conditions. Salty foods can also worsen pain by increasing swelling and puffiness.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

• If you are very weak, are dealing with a prolonged disease, or have low blood pressure, you may be able to receive gua sha, but it would be gentle treatment and you should give yourself plenty of time to rest afterward

• If you have a bleeding disorder or taking blood thinners, gua sha treatments may or may not be appropriate, depending on your unique situation

• Pregnant people should not receive gua sha on the trapezius, low back, sacrum, or abdomen

• Gua sha should not be done on areas of severely dry/flaky, infected, broken, sunburned, burned, inflamed skin, acne, or cysts

• Gha sha should not be performed on areas of edema, ascites, or swelling

• Gua sha should not be performed over broken bones, herniated discs, dislocations

• People should not receive gua sha if experiencing severe health conditions such as cardiac failure, renal failure, liver failure