What to Expect
What can you expect when you come for an acupuncture treatment?
First, we welcome you to our light and modern clinic, centrally situated in Scarsdale, NY. Your first appointment begins with a thorough exploration of your current condition, both physically and mentally, from both the Western and Chinese medicine perspectives. We talk about what brings you in and discuss how your body and mind feel, your lifestyle and diet. We look at your tongue and take your pulse. When all this information about you is gathered, we can start to construct a treatment plan.
Depending on your needs your treatment could be made up of a wide range of modalities, including acupuncture, gua sha, tuina, moxa, electrical stimulation, cupping and herbal prescriptions.
The first appointment usually takes 60-75 minutes. Follow up treatments can be 45-60 minutes depending on what modalities are part of the treatment and how much there is to discuss - exercise, lifestyle changes or eastern nutrition based recommendations. You may also be given a herbal prescription to take between acupuncture treatments.
The effects of acupuncture are cummulative, so commonly treatments for most conditions are recommended at least 2-3 times a week for the first 4-6 weeks; the effects last longer after several treatments close together. Also consider that the longer you have had the problem, the longer it may take to allow for change in your condition. Your overall health, your body's strength and your lifestyle also play important parts in your recovery.
Chinese medicine does not always treat locally at the site of the problem and your acupuncturist may choose points that are seemingly unrelated. Tiny needles may be inserted to the points on the ear, scalp, feet and hands or other points on the body. Always make sure to communicate what you are feeling during the treatment, it is your body and your feedback is invaluable.