A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain, but is also shown to be effective in managing overall wellness, including stress management. Our acupuncture treatments begin with a one-on-one intake to find out the details of your issue as well as providing an overall view of your medical and physical background. During the actual treatment we may use adjunctive practices as gua sha, cupping, and electrostimulation, but the necessity of using these services with be evaluated by the practitioner and may involve an extra fee.
Your initial treatment will be the longest, running about an hour and a half, and it’s requested that you arrive about 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to fill out the necessary legal and medical paperwork. Once the paperwork is done, we will begin a in-depth intake interview where we get to know you, what your concerns are and reasons for treatment, and find out what state the rest of your body and health is in relation to your everyday life. While some of the questions may seem excessive or irrelevant to say, your need to recover from a sprained ankle, this information is important to a Chinese medical practitioner, because we look at the whole body as an interconnected system where one aspect or area of the body often affects another. Taking all of the information into account, we come up with a treatment plan that will target your concerns, while also bringing your body back into balance.
Wear loose comfortable clothing.
Most of the acupuncture points we access on the body are on the limbs, stomach and back, so its important that you wear clothing that gives us access to those areas. While we do provide shorts and gowns, some patients find it more comfortable to bring their own garments to change into. For women, it is fine to leave your bra on, but its preferred that you not wear a sports bra, as they most often cover points on the chest, shoulders, and back that we like to use.
Eat something.
While you don’t need to eat an entire meal before coming, it is important that you have something in your stomach before we treat you. Because of its relaxing effect and ability to immediately lower blood pressure, the possibility of fainting on the table is increased if your blood sugar is low.
It depends.
The recommended frequency and number of treatments recommended will vary depending on your situation, but generally, acupuncture is most effective when done frequently and regularly. Many people feel immediate relief after their first treatment, but long term results do take time, especially if the issue is chronic or a congenital issue. We acupuncturists come up with what we call a treatment plan, which will guide us towards your goal of improvement. Once you feel your concerns have been addressed to your liking, weekly sessions may no longer be needed and you may only return whenever you would like a tune up or another issue you have arises.
Not really.
E-stim, also known as electro-stim or electroacupuncture, is the application of incredibly minute amounts of current to acupuncture needles, which are inserted into the skin. The amperage and frequency (hertz) are finely tuned to the individual patient’s constitution and condition. While it is not indetectable, the sensations from an e-stim machine are minimal to moderate, and most patients are not bothered by it. It is most often used for pain, specifically musculoskeletal conditions, because the conductivity can interact with the neural junctions to reset muscles, promote cellular regeneration and most significantly reduce pain. In addition, it has also been shown in clinical trials to address other issues such as constipation, weight loss, and anxiety.
Yes, we make house calls within reasonable travelling distance of the TriState area. Please contact us info@autonomicacupuncture.com for more information.
Yes, we are out-of-network with several providers.