During Your Treatment

 

Before each treatment, Stephanie will evaluate your health by asking you questions about your current medical concerns and your past medical history.  She may ask to feel your pulse, not to just check the speed, but to judge its condition.  She may also examine your tongue (please don’t brush it before your appt.) which by its color and texture can reveal much about your health.   Some orthopedic tests may be performed to evaluate a muscular-skeletal condition or injury.

 

After the exam, you will begin your treatment.  Disposable needles are used for each treatment.  The needles used by Stephanie are generally the Japanese micro thin type that are tapped in through a tiny tube.  The needles are left in for 10-15 minutes while you relax with some soft music playing.  

 

Most patients go into a state of deep relaxation immediately and some even fall asleep due to the endorphins that are released during the treatment.  For some conditions, electrodes may be attached to the needles.  The electrical current provides a stronger stimulation to the needles to promote healing.  

 

A few minutes of Tuina(Chinese massage) and/or reflexology may be implemented after the needles are removed, and during some treatments you may also receive moxibustion (an herbal heat treatment) or cupping to improve circulation.  Chinese herbs are often prescribed to complement your treatment.

 

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Each patient is unique and the number and frequency of treatments will vary from patient to patient.  Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while others may take four to ten treatments.  Typically, conditions that have persisted for some time will take longer to respond, while acute conditions may resolve within one or two treatments.  While a specific problem is being worked on, you may visit your acupuncturist once or twice a week, and gradually reduce the frequency to once or twice a month.  To simply maintain good health, you may limit your treatments to once or twice each season- four times a year.