FAQ's   What is involved in the initial visit?  On the first visit, you would need to fill out our intake form. Then the practitioner will sit down with you conduct the consultation. You will be taken to one of our treatment rooms after the consultation. The practitioner will take your pulse, check your tongue, and palpate your abdomen if necessary. More questions related to your body's energy system might be asked before a composite Oriental medical diagnosis is derived. The diagnosis would always indicate a disharmony or blockage of energy in certain meridians or organs. Then a few disposable stainless and painless needles will be gently inserted to a group of acupuncture points to restore the balance and smooth flow of energy. The needles will be left in the body for about 20-25 minutes before they are removed. Top What should I wear? You should wear comfortable loose fitting clothes. Top What can I expect? Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and Oriental medicine. You should get some relief even after the first treatment. In addition to the relief of symptoms, many of our patients have reported increased energy, less stress and anxiety, improved sleep,and improved sense of well being. Top How many treatments will I need? The number of treatments needed depends on the complexity of your illness, whether it's a chronic or recent condition, and your general state of health. For example, you may need only one treatment if you pulled your muscle recently. Whereas for a long standing, chronic illness you may need treatments once or twice a week for a few weeks to get a lot of relief. Top Is acupuncture painful? We only use the best quality needles available. They are made in Japan and they are very fine and flexible, about a diameter of a human hair. Plus we are specially trained on needle insertion, you don't feel the needle go in your body at all. Top Is acupuncture safe? In the hands of a comprehensively trained acupuncturist, your safety is assured. We use individually packed sterile needles and dispose them after each patient so that there is no chance of contamination. Top What is acupuncture good for? Acupuncture has been recognized by medical professionals to be effective for pain relief, postsurgery and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting. In 1996, the National Institute of Health recognized that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan for many illnesses, such as addiction, asthma, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, facial tics, headaches, irregular period, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, sciatica, sinusitis, spastic colon, stroke rehabilitation, tendinitis, tennis elbow, and urinary problems. Acupuncture can be safely combined with prescription medicines and other forms of treatments. But we recommend you to tell your primary care physician about the treatments so he or she can monitor your condition. Top What should I look for to find a good acupuncturist? Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is a complex form of medicine that has been practiced in China for over three thousand years. It definitely takes at least three to four years (full time) of schooling and hundreds of treatments at a clinic or hospital before someone can master the knowledge and skill. In order for a practitioner to be well qualified, he or she must have a state license, be well trained, have sufficient clinical experience. And above all, he or she needs to have good energy.