TREATMENT PLAN

 

When it comes to individual health, most people experience symptoms in their life that are either constant or occasionally come and go. It can be anything from depression and anxiety to headaches, constipation, respiratory issues, insomnia or back pain. Whether it’s acute or a more chronic condition, acupuncture can help regardless if it started from an event long ago or if it's a recent diagnosis. The great thing about acupuncture is it works for every person, and it works every time. Acupuncture gets to the root cause of the problem, and with the right treatment plan in place, it can bring the kind of relief that many people have no idea is possible.

 

When working on a specific health condition, keeping the uniqueness of the patient in mind is key for the practitioner and patient to understand the prognosis. Some individuals start to feel better much sooner than individuals with the same or similar condition. This can be due to many factors including age, how long the condition has been present, the severity of the symptoms, and the general constitution of the patient.

 

For new patients starting treatment, expect to come in four to six times in the first month, including the initial intake and first treatment. We will start with two treatments the first week and possibly the second week to get treatments to start holding and reduce the symptoms from reoccurring. Patients who have more acute and severe symptoms will need to come in at least four to six times before experiencing significant relief and long-term effects from treatment.

 

Whether you are a new patient or returning patient with a condition, expect to follow a treatment plan, such as what I outlined. Acupuncture treatments can never be too soon or too frequent, however, you can have them spread too far apart where symptoms begin to return. Since you are investing in your healthcare, it is best to stay consistent with your treatment plan so progress does not become lost.

 

Although long-lasting results are not expected from one treatment alone, you can anticipate feeling better after your first treatment. As you continue, you will begin to start feeling better and better with each treatment without the negative side effects of many other conventional therapies. The only side effect from receiving regular acupuncture treatments is improved quality of life, which is something I frequently hear from patients.

 

Occasionally, I will hear “I tried acupuncture and it didn’t work” or “I was told it doesn’t work”. The only reason this could be is that the person had a more acute or complicated condition and expected it to be eliminated in one or two treatments. They may have an improvement from just one treatment, but one session would not be enough to address their problem fully, and symptoms would likely return quickly.

 

Chinese medicine is about rebalancing and nourishing qi ("chee") in the body. Qi is what the body uses as energy and it is referred to as ‘life-force’. We have many ‘rivers’ of qi in our body called channels or meridians, that get obstructed over time. As an acupuncturist, my job is to open these channels back up to allow flow and movement again. Once we re-attune your body to have this flow and movement again, you’ll start holding that natural state of balance. When we get you to this point, we can adjust your treatment frequency to a maintenance plan.

 

As someone who has experienced and witnessed the many gifts of this medicine, I’m excited to partner with you in your journey of healing and wellness. I know that the body is wise, it knows how to heal itself and it wants to heal itself, and with the right care, anything is possible.