New Patients

Welcome New Patients

What you need to bring to your initial appointment

2 Valid Insurance Card if you have acupuncture insurance coverage
3 List of medications and supplements you have taken
4 Reports of any Lab tests, image exams, etc.

5 Arrive 10-15 min earlier in case to fill out some paper forms.

Check With Your Insurance Provider if You Have Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture

Insurance coverage varies from state to state and among carriers. Contact your insurance provider to learn what kind of care is covered. If you call your insurance provider, please write down the date and time of your call, and the name of the person who spoke with you. If your insurance covers acupuncture, please ask: what kind of condition is covered? Is there any deductible, co-pay, or co-insurance? How many visits are covered per year?

How to Prepare for Your Acupuncture Treatment

To prepare for your appointment, come with any questions you may have; We're here to help you.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing for easy access to acupuncture points.
• Don't eat an unusually large meals just before or after the visit, but do eat something, as acupuncture is not recommended on an empty stomach.
• Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your regular doctor.
• Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) especially in the week prior to treatment, will seriously interfere with the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments.
• Avoid stressful situations. Make time to relax and be sure to get plenty of rest.
• Between visits, take notes of any changes that may have occurred.

What an Acupuncture Treatment is Like

• The needles are pretty painless.
• During treatment, extremely fine, hair-thin, flexible needles are placed at specific points on the skin. Once the needles are placed, you may experience a sensation of tingling, vague numbness, heaviness or a dull ache in the area while the practitioner is stimulating the point. Sometimes people experience a sensation of energy spreading and moving around the needle or radiating from the needle. These are positive signs that the treatment is working.
• Usually the patient will be lying on a comfortable, padded table or in an easy chair. Often patients will become very relaxed and fall into a light sleep during the session.

What You Can Expect During and After Your Appointment

• During your initial visit, I will take a full medical history and ask questions about your symptoms, health and life-style, etc. I may also check your tongue and pulse, perform a physical exam and review your lab tests and imaging exams. You may receive an Acupuncture treatment after the initial exam. Treatments can last from 30 to 90 minutes. I may give recommendations to you about Chinese herbal medicine, diet, exercise and other Oriental medicine modalities. I will discuss with you the course and frequency of treatment, cautions and encourage you to actively participate in your healing process. As in any form of healing, your attitude, diet, determination and life-style will affect the outcome of the treatment.
• During your return visit, I will check with you about any changes from the previous visit, adjust the treatment according to your response to the treatment.
• During your treatment, extremely fine, hair-thin, flexible needles are placed at specific points. Once the needles are placed, you may experience a sensation of tingling, vague numbness, heaviness or a dull ache in the area while the practitioner is stimulating the point. Sometimes people experience a sensation of energy spreading and moving around the needle or along the course of the meridian. These are all positive signs that the treatment is working.
• After your appointment, it is recommended to drink plenty of water and take it easy. About 10 to 15 % of time, some patients may experience some mild residual pain in the needling area, slight bruise on the skin, mild headache, lightheaded, sleepy, or pain that worsens a little bit during the first day or two right after treatment. These symptoms are usually not concerning or require medical help. If the pain is severe, then a heating pad is recommended.

How Long Does A Treatment Usually Take

An office visit will typically last from 30 minutes to 1 hour and, longer than 1 hour for some cases. The needles, once inserted, will usually be left in place from 15 to 45 minutes. The length of a visit can vary due to desired results and the type of acupuncture technique best suited for each individual treatment.

When to add cupping or Chinese herbs

We will recommend adding cupping or Chinese herbs based on medical necessity. For example, cupping triple therapy is good for asthma, and Chinese herbs are usually recommended for cancer patients.