Services
Acupuncture (zhen jiu)
Acupuncture uses thin, sterile, single-use needles placed at chosen points on the body. After you talk and your acupuncturist takes your pulse and looks at your tongue, they decide the points and explain them before any needle goes in.
Who comes in, and what you may feel afterward
Who usually comes in
People of many ages and backgrounds, often with a stiff back, neck or shoulders, or a long stretch of tension and poor sleep. Some come with a parent or a grandparent, and some come because a friend or their own doctor suggested it.
What you may feel afterward
Many people feel relaxed or sleepy afterward. A small bruise or a dull ache can show up at a needle site and usually fades in a day or two. Drink some water, and take it easy if you feel light-headed.
What a visit is like, in order
A first visit takes about 75 minutes, and later visits are shorter.
- 01
Step 1: We talk
Your acupuncturist asks about your health, the medicines you take and what brings you in, then takes your pulse and looks at your tongue.
- 02
Step 2: You get comfortable
You lie on a padded table, clothed or draped. Loose clothing that rolls up past the knee and the elbow is enough.
- 03
Step 3: The needles go in
A few needles are placed and left in for about 20 to 30 minutes. Say so right away if anything is uncomfortable.
- 04
Step 4: You rest
The room is quiet and your acupuncturist checks in. Afterward the needles come out and we talk about the next step.
Tell us first
Say any of these when you book, and again at the visit.
Pregnancy
If you are or might be pregnant, some points are avoided and your acupuncturist explains the risks.
Blood thinners
If you take a blood thinner, bruising and bleeding at a needle site are more likely.
A pacemaker or implant
Some visits use a small electrical current through the needles, which does not suit a pacemaker.
Lymph nodes removed
If you have had lymph nodes removed, we keep needles off that side.
Bleeding disorders
If you bleed or bruise easily, we plan the points and the number of needles around that.
Worry about needles
Say so. We can begin with other methods, or go very slowly, and you can stop at any time.
How many visits, and what this does not do
Your acupuncturist suggests a plan after the first visit and looks at it again as you go. How many visits people plan for depends on their reasons and how they respond, and you can stop whenever you like.
What it doesn't do, and when to see a doctor instead
It does not replace your doctor's care, and we do not prescribe medicine or ask you to stop yours. We do not promise a result: people respond differently. See your doctor or an urgent care clinic first for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, a sudden severe headache, or a fever with a stiff neck. In an emergency, call 911.