What should I expect during an acupuncture treatment?

Initial Acupuncture & Herbal Treatment

The initial treatment often takes approximately one hour, as we will discuss your health history and health concerns in detail. There is a detailed Health History Questionnaire that you must fill out (download the pdf here) prior to your first visit. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your initial visit in order to fill out the necessary forms at the office if you have not downloaded and done so beforehand.

Once an understanding of your health history is obtained, a detailed evaluation of your systems via the radial pulses will be performed in order to understand the energetic imbalances that are contributing to your current state of health. “Feeling the radial pulses” in Classical True Acupuncture is quite different from pulse taking in Western Medicine, TCM, and other styles of acupuncture, for it is the primary diagnostic tool.

In order to find the appropriate points to needle, the practitioner will palpate points on your body while feeling the radial pulses at the same time. While this takes some time, it ensures that every point used “counts” and elicits a beneficial energetic response in your system. Again, only a few points will be needled.

After the needles have been inserted, you will continue to relax on the massage table for 15-30 minutes, depending on the individual. The practitioner will continue to check your pulses and remove the needles accordingly.

If you require an herbal formulation, it will be filled for you during session.

Please allot 45 minutes for subsequent treatment sessions. If during a follow up treatment, a Classical True Acupuncture practitioner feels that you do not need to be needled at that time, your evaluation may take no more than 20 minutes. Please read FAQ: “How often do I need treatments?” to understand the philosophy behind this type of treatment process.