Due to the holistic nature of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, your first visit takes more time than a visit to a conventional western doctor. Typically, a new patient consultation and treatment will last about 60-90 minutes and subsequent visits last about 30-45 minutes.
In order to get a complete picture of your health, you will be asked a wide range of questions relating to many aspects of your being. Questions are asked about your physical symptoms, emotions, daily routine, diet, levels of activity, sleep patterns, and more.
During your physical evaluations, you will find that special attention is paid to inspecting your tongue and pulse. This observation is an essential diagnostic method used by Oriental Medicine and is a very important element in assessing your state of health.
The interview process is essential to the outcome of your treatments at Practice Longevity. This is where the picture of your body’s state of health is formed. A good treatment is rooted within a solid diagnosis and sound treatment plan. It is also important to note that diagnosis and treatments are actually an ongoing process, formed over a few treatment sessions.
After the initial interview, together, we will discuss the expected efficacy of acupuncture treatment, as it relates to your conditions. From there, we will discuss your treatment options, start the educational process, and begin your first acupuncture treatment.
If you’re like most people, your first question is... “does acupuncture hurt?”. Well, the honest answer is, “just a little bit” for some people and “no” for most other people. We are highly proficient in the insertion of acupuncture needles. You may feel a very slight prick when a point is first needled, but after the initial insertion, there is usually no pain.
Having said that, it is important to understand that an acupuncture needle is activating the Qi of particular points. This activation is called “Da Qi”, or “good needling sensation”. It is responsible for the therapeutic results of treatment.
Da Qi does not hurt, but it does produce a variety of sensations that vary depending on its location on the body. Most commonly, sensations include: a dull ache, slight numbness, warmth, tingles, buzzing, etc. If it ever feels sharp, or burns in any way, let us know and we will correct the needle.
Our acupuncture needles are sterile, disposable, and of very high quality. Furthermore, you will be happy to know that Practice Longevity uses thinner than average needles.
The needles are kept in for 15–30 minutes while you lay on a comfortable salon style bed in a warm private room, often with a therapeutic heat lamp and relaxing music. Most patients fall asleep while the needles are in.
Your first acupuncture treatment will be simple, gentle, and consist of just a few points. The goal of the first treatment is threefold. First, it will initiate your body for future treatments. Second, it will address your body’s general patterns of disharmony and begin the healing process. Lastly, it will give both of us an opportunity to see how well you respond to acupuncture.
Return acupuncture visits target your condition more directly, based on the interview process, your diagnosis, the effects of the initial treatment, and according to your personal comfort levels.
