First Time Patients

1. During your first visit, we will need to learn a great deal about your
current situation and health history. Although a Health Questionaire will
be available to you at the clinic, it is beneficial to fill out the form ahead
of time. You may download the form using the link on the left hand side
of this page.

2. Please bring any information about your case you may have from
your doctors, including lab tests, blood work, reports of x-rays or MRI's,
etc.

3. For all acupuncture visits, be sure you have eaten at least a light meal
within a few hours prior to arriving. Avoid overeating immediately
before treatment.

4. Wear loose fitting clothes that can be easily rolled up above your
elbows and knees. Also, you will need to expose your abdomen from
your rib cage to the top of your hips, so avoid one piece suits or dresses.

5. During the intake, you will be asked many questions, some related
specifically to your complaint and others seemingly unrelated. Oriental
Medicine requires the entire person be taken into consideration so we
can determine what is causing the disease. We treat the whole person,
not just the symptom.

6. During the physical examination, we will look at your tongue, feel
your wrist and/or neck pulse, and check your abdomen by pressing
gently between the hips and rib cage. This examination will confirm or
alter our diagnosis and help us choose the best treatment option.

7. After the pattern of disharmony has been determined, you will lie on
the treatment table, either on your stomach or your back, and needles
will be inserted. The acupuncture points may also be stimulated with
moxa, safety warmer, or a heating lamp.

8. After the needles are inserted, you will rest on the table for 10
minutes or longer. Often, you will receive a treatment first while you lie
on your back, then another while you lie on your stomach.

9. The number of treatments a patient needs varies with each person.
We will be better able to determine the treatment course after we
evaluate the body's response to the first treatment.

10. When necessary, we will suggest "homework"to strengthen the
effect of the treatment. Homework may be in the form of simple physical
or breathing exercises, dietary advice, or recommendation for internal
or external herbal remedies.

11. For best results, avoid strenuous activity immediately following a
treatment.