Acupuncture Treatment

What to Expect

Treatments are done one-on-one with patients fully clothed, or draped if disrobing is necessary. Initial treatments include:

•    Health/Family History
•    Examination
•    Diagnosis
•    Treatment Plan

While this first visit can take up to two hours, return visits generally run about an hour. Patients can be faceup or facedown on the table with needles retained for 20 to 40 minutes at a time. If lying still for long periods is challenging for you, let us in advance so we can be sure your treatment is comfortable.

We recommend you read our Patient Guidelines for pre- and post-treatment to get the most out of your acupuncture session.

About the Needles

Needles used in acupuncture are significantly smaller than those used for injection or for taking blood. Their solid form makes insertion smoother and less noticeable. Some patients do not even notice their insertion, while others have described it as a "pinch." Remembering to breathe and closing one's eyes can help maximize relaxation during treatment.

We recognize that not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of needles. That's OK! We provide a number of alternative therapies based on the same theory as acupuncture but that use a different set of traditional tools, such as auricular acupressure or cups. Read about our Needle-Free Options and Chinese Herbal Medicine to learn more.