What can I expect when I arrive at a Chinese medicine clinic?
What is the examination like?
What is involved in a Chinese diagnosis and prescription?
How are the needles inserted?
How many treatments will I need?

What can I expect when I arrive at a Chinese medicine clinic?

Upon arrival at our suite in the medical complex, you will be asked to complete paperwork. (You may download the paperwork from this site and fill it out at home at your leisure.) This questionnaire gives your practitioner information about your condition and any special requirements.  Once we have gotten to know something about you and your individual needs, we will use traditional Chinese diagnostic tools to assist us in developing the best strategies to achieve your wellness goals.

What is the diagnostic examination like?

In TCM-style Chinese medicine, diagnosis uses the four examinations:  inspection, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation.  Most of the interview portion of the four examinations is now completed using the first office call paperwork.  Your practitioner will also take notes based on observations and will ask questions.  In the treatment room, he will ask you to gently extend your tongue.  For the sake of accurate diagnosis, please do not brush your tongue during the 48 hours prior to your treatment.  Finally, your practitioner will palpate your pulse.

What is involved in formulating a Chinese diagnosis?

Please be aware that we are not trained or legally permitted to diagnose, treat, or cure any biomedical disease directly.  Instead, we reframe your biomedical diagnosis using Chinese theory into a simple Chinese disease such as headache or constipation.  We then determine the deep root cause of your condition based on the signs and symptoms.  Treatment according to pattern differentiation is the hallmark of our medicine and is crucial for a safe and effective treatment.

How are the needles inserted?

Following disinfection of the skin with alcohol, sterile needles are quickly inserted with the aid of a disposable guide tube.  Patients will not experience the unpleasant discomfort of an injection, although a slight physiological reaction at the deeper level is not only common but also indicates a therapeutic response.  Your acupuncturist may then use gentle movements to elicit the correct circulation of qi.  Following removal and safe disposal of the needles, patients report feeling relaxed and invigorated.

How many treatments will I need?

A course of treatment can range from a single session to an ongoing schedule of regular treatments.  Expect faster results with acute conditions and more treatments to address chronic imbalances.  For long-term conditions, several treatments are needed to determine the prognosis for an individual case.  The use of herbal formulas in conjunction with acupuncture generally leads to a shorter treatment course.