Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the placing of very fine, sterile needles at chosen spots on the body, then resting while they stay in place. Your acupuncturist chooses the spots after listening to you, looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse. It is one part of a long tradition of Chinese medicine, offered here alongside your own doctor's care.
Who usually comes in
Most people who book have had a stiff or aching body for a while, often from a desk, a car or a shift on their feet. Some come because a friend suggested it, and some simply want an hour that is quiet.
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We talk
Your acupuncturist asks about your day, your sleep and your medicines, and looks at your tongue and pulse.
- 02
Step 2: You settle in
You lie on a padded table, covered with a sheet or blanket, in clothes that roll up.
- 03
Step 3: Needles go in
Each needle is sterile and used once. Most people feel a pinch or nothing, then a dull ache or warmth.
- 04
Step 4: You rest
You rest for about 25 minutes with a call button in reach, and we check in as you do.
Afterward, and how many visits
What you may feel afterward
Many people feel relaxed or sleepy, and some feel a little sore where a needle was. A small mark or a light bruise is possible. Drink some water, take it easy for the rest of the day and tell us at your next visit how you felt.
How many visits
Some people come for a few visits close together and then space them out. Others come every few weeks or only now and then. We suggest a plan at your first visit, never a promise, and you can change it at any time.
Tell us first
Pregnancy
If you are or might be pregnant, tell us. Some points are left out and we adjust the visit.
Blood thinners or bleeding
Marks are darker and last longer if you take a blood thinner or bruise easily.
A pacemaker or implanted device
Tell us about any device, so we know what to leave out.
Lymph node removal
If you have had lymph nodes removed, we avoid needles on that side.
Fainting or needle fear
Tell us at booking if needles worry you. We go slowly, and you can lie flat.
Every medicine you take
Bring a list or say them aloud. Keep taking them as your doctor prescribed.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor instead
Acupuncture does not replace your doctor's care, and it does not stand in for imaging, physical therapy or surgery when you need them. We cannot promise a result, and results vary from person to person.
See your doctor or an urgent care clinic first for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, a sudden severe headache, new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, or a fever with a stiff neck. In an emergency, call 911.
How paying works is on our fees page, and your first visit is a short message away.