Please arrive approximately 15 minutes early for your first visit, as there will be some new patient paperwork to complete.* When this is finished, the initial office visit can begin.

*You may also download these forms from this website’s main menu, complete them at home and bring them with you.

What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

Many people may be unfamiliar with what exactly takes place in an acupuncture session. Wondering what happens during treatment, how many visits may be needed and whether health insurance covers it are all common concerns. In a typical first visit, Sarah will take a detailed health history, fully investigate your chief complaint and provide acupuncture for you. This may take up to an hour and a half but is necessary to create an individualized treatment plan that takes into account your present physical, emotional, and nutritional condition, while focusing on your main health concern. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles (the width of two human hairs) into specific anatomical points. Return visits may also introduce the option of Chinese herbal therapy. Chinese herbal therapy reinforces acupuncture in a natural way without side effects. The two are often used together to strengthen the effects of treatment and to achieve longer lasting results in a shorter amount of time.

When all the needles are in place, you will be left to rest for about thirty minutes.  You will be given a bell that can be rung if you have any questions, or if you are ready to get up before the thirty minutes are over. At the end of the visit, Sarah will prescribe herbs or supplements if they are necessary and discuss a treatment plan to treat your condition.