What to Expect:
First Time Trying Acupuncture?
We’re here to walk you through the process, step-by-step. Experience patient-focused treatments to help you find relief for:
Chronic Pain / Fertility & Women's Health / Cosmetic Acupuncture / Allergies / Colds & Flu / Headaches & Migraines / Digestive Imbalances / Sports Injuries / Back, Neck & Shoulder Pain / Knee Pain / Joint Pain / Arthritis / Insomnia / Stress / Smoking Cessation / Auto-Immune Syndromes / Detoxification / General Health Maintenance
Thinking about scheduling an appointment and you want to know the full scoop about your first session? Read below for what to expect or book a free 15 minute consultation here and we will run it down for you!
Does acupuncture hurt? Most of the time, NO! At times, you will not even feel the needle go in. At other times there may be a very quick, slight pinch as the needle is inserted. Other common sensations at the insertion point may include: heaviness, warmth, dull ache, sometimes a tingly or “sparkly” sensation as some patients endearingly describe. Acupuncture should never be painful, stinging or sharp. Any sustained or shooting pain is not the norm. During your session, you and your practitioner will be in communication the whole time about how you are feeling. If you feel discomfort, we will make any necessary adjustments. Our needling technique is gentle, yet effective. It is our goal to have you in the most relaxed state possible so that your parasympathetic nervous system can take over to allow the body's innate healing ability to kick in. Most times you will find yourself in a floaty, blissful, restorative acupuncture induced nap!
Needles: So many people shy away from needles because of their previous experience with shots at the doctor’s office. Hypodermic needles are hollow and about 40 times the size of a filiform (solid) acupuncture needle. In fact, you could fit dozens of acupuncture needles inside one hypodermic needle! For scale: acupuncture needles are about the width of one of your hairs. Add to that the thousands of hours of practice your practitioner has dedicated to perfecting their technique to provide you with the most comfortable experience possible.
What other therapies may I receive? Chinese medicine has many healing tools we employ to make you feel your best. Sometimes we may use cupping or gua sha therapy to relieve muscle tension, help reinforce detoxification, or build resilience against pathogens. We also include herbal & nutritional guidance. At Luna Acupuncture & Apothecary we make tailor-made custom herbal formulas - just for you! Movement medicine practices such as tai chi, qi gong plus meditation and mindfulness practices are also integral parts to your healing journey.
Patient Forms: When you book your Initial Consultation appointment, you will receive a link to our Patient Portal where you can easily create an ID and access the forms digitally from your computer to fill out before your first appointment. One of those forms will ask about your health history. It is important to answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. According to your answers we can assess the best treatment plan for your individual needs. Chinese medicine takes a holistic approach to correct imbalances and get to the root of why you may not be feeling your best. The more I know about your personal health, the better we can work together to help you attain the best results!
Punctuality: Please arrive on time to your appointment. We strive to provide excellent patient care. To allow for this, we rely on the punctuality of our patients so that we can spend our time together efficiently doing what we do best, making you feel great!
How to prepare for your first session: Please make sure to eat at least 4 hours prior to your treatment. An empty stomach can lead to feelings of lightheadedness, dizziness and blood sugar lows, so make sure to have a light snack before if it has been hours since your last meal.
Dress appropriately: If possible, please wear loose, comfortable clothing where your arms and legs below the knee are accessible. If that is not possible and you have to visit straight from work, we provide comfortable linens and privacy draping to ensure your comfort.
“You want to see what?” I get the funniest looks when I ask “Please, let me see your tongue?”. That’s right - during your treatment, your practitioner will ask you to stick out your tongue. The color, shape, coating, thickness, etc. tells us a lot about what is going on in your body. So please, as much as you think it’s weird - don’t brush or scrape your tongue prior to your appointment, that’s valuable information! Another thing we will do is check your pulse. The pulse tells so much about your energy, hormonal balance, circulation, organ status and more.
After your appointment: After your session, you are likely to feel great. Less pain, more energy, better sleep, and more. This is the time to be calm and restful, and also drink plenty of water. You can go about your normal day, eat, enjoy light exercise, drive, work and all that jazz. We just ask that you take it easy and don’t go too hard; refrain from intense workouts, heavy manual labor, hot yoga, partying, staying up all night, etc.. Even after the needles are out, your body is still repairing and restoring balance. Taking it easy helps keep this healing mechanism in action.
Follow-up: I always send out a follow-up email or phone call to review any recommendations and your individual treatment strategy after your first visit, especially if it’s your first ever! This gives you a chance to see how you are feeling after your session and ask any questions that may come up. Communication is key!