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What to Expect and How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit
Introduction: Are You Empowered?
We believe that empowered clients get quicker and better results overall. An empowered client is someone who takes the time to educate them self about the process they are undertaking. Who prepares for their visits, participates fully during their session and engages the practitioner with appropriate questions. Read on to become empowered!
Your First Visit
Welcome to Bend Community Acupuncture! This will be an opportunity for you to meet with your practitioner in a private setting, to discuss your health history and your current concerns. We will do a complete evaluation, orient you to the clinic and give you an idea of what to expect during your treatment with us. Please plan on your initial visit lasting between 1 ½ to 2 hours. The following are some things you need to know to get the most out of your session:
-Plan to arrive at the clinic 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill out paper work, (click here if you need directions). You can save time by obtaining all of the necessary paperwork before hand by either contacting the clinic or downloading it here.
-Bathe and wear clean socks the day of your session.
-Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that will allow for easy access to your lower legs and arms. If you are someone who gets cold easily, wear extra layers, hats, socks, etc. If you typically run a bit warmer, then dress lighter. Our community room is fairly warm by most peoples' standards.
-Have something to eat a few hours before your treatment. You don't want to be hungry or overly full during acupuncture.
-Get plenty of rest the night before a treatment.
-Tongue, complexion and pulse diagnosis are an integral part of your evaluation, so please avoid the following:
Treatments
-Check-in with the receptionist, help your self to water and please visit the restroom if necessary. Out of courtesy to others and to keep you focused on your session, we insist that you silence your cell phone or any other electronic devices BEFORE entering the community room.
-Most sessions are done in our community room, which means that there may be other people in the room at various stages of treatment. Please be courteous by keeping your voice low and noise to an absolute minimum. Please see our office policies for more information.
-Unless instructed otherwise, please find a recliner in the community room, remove your shoes, and relax while you wait for your treatment to begin.
-Your practitioner will greet you, inquire about your health and the status of your progress. They may also feel your pulses and evaluate your tongue. At this point your treatment will begin and once the points are in place, it is time for you to sit back and relax and let things happen. Try to breathe deep and let go of any stress. Meditation and/or napping are wonderful ways to get the most out of your acupuncture session. Regular visits usually last around an hour. Let your acupuncturist know if you are uncomfortable in anyway.
Sensations
The overall process of receiving acupuncture is reported by most people as being relaxing, restorative and restful. During needle insertion, there may be a short poking or needle-like sensation that will go away quickly. Occasionally a needle may need to be removed and re-inserted if this sensation lasts. Usually a dull ache, numbing, tingling or full sensation is reported. This is not only normal, but expected as it indicates that the point has connected to and activated your vital energy or Qi, (pronounced "chee"). Once all of the needles have been inserted, you may forget that they are there and slip into a state of relaxation drifting in and out of consciousness. Many people report sensations or movements of energy within their bodies. Feelings like water running under the skin, swirling movements or warm sensation are all normal.
After Your Session
Once all of the points have been removed, you will be encouraged to take a few moments to collect yourself, your thoughts and return to the present moment. Most people have a deep sense of relaxation, stress relief and report feeling a bit "out of it" in a good way. Try and avoid excess stress or exertion after a treatment. A sensation that some of the needles are still there is normal and usually goes away after a while. You can gently massage any spots that remain tender. Observe and keep track of how you feel the hours and days after your session. Your feedback is vital to our ability to treat you effectively. Please feel free to raise any concerns or questions that you have with us.
Expectations
What can you expect in terms of results? This is a question that is best answered by your practitioner after they have done their initial evaluation and treatment with you. Everyone is different in terms of age, overall health, lifestyle, diet and of course severity of illness. This means that a potential outcome from acupuncture therapy cannot be known without taking all of these factors into effect. With this in mind, the following are some general guidelines:
Our pledge is that we will deal with your and treat your condition as openly, honestly and effectively as possible. If we sense that you would be better served by another modality or another acupuncturist then we will let you know. We are driven to be the best, most effective practitioners we can be. Part of that commitment is the knowledge that we cannot help everyone all of the time.
Introduction: Are You Empowered?
We believe that empowered clients get quicker and better results overall. An empowered client is someone who takes the time to educate them self about the process they are undertaking. Who prepares for their visits, participates fully during their session and engages the practitioner with appropriate questions. Read on to become empowered!
Welcome to Bend Community Acupuncture! This will be an opportunity for you to meet with your practitioner in a private setting, to discuss your health history and your current concerns. We will do a complete evaluation, orient you to the clinic and give you an idea of what to expect during your treatment with us. Please plan on your initial visit lasting between 1 ½ to 2 hours. The following are some things you need to know to get the most out of your session:
-Plan to arrive at the clinic 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill out paper work, (click here if you need directions). You can save time by obtaining all of the necessary paperwork before hand by either contacting the clinic or downloading it here.
-Bathe and wear clean socks the day of your session.
-Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing that will allow for easy access to your lower legs and arms. If you are someone who gets cold easily, wear extra layers, hats, socks, etc. If you typically run a bit warmer, then dress lighter. Our community room is fairly warm by most peoples' standards.
-Have something to eat a few hours before your treatment. You don't want to be hungry or overly full during acupuncture.
-Get plenty of rest the night before a treatment.
-Tongue, complexion and pulse diagnosis are an integral part of your evaluation, so please avoid the following:
- Coffee, tea, excess sugar or any other food item such as candy or gum that may influence either the color of your tongue or your pulse rate.
- Brushing your tongue.
- Wearing make-up.
-Check-in with the receptionist, help your self to water and please visit the restroom if necessary. Out of courtesy to others and to keep you focused on your session, we insist that you silence your cell phone or any other electronic devices BEFORE entering the community room.
-Most sessions are done in our community room, which means that there may be other people in the room at various stages of treatment. Please be courteous by keeping your voice low and noise to an absolute minimum. Please see our office policies for more information.
-Unless instructed otherwise, please find a recliner in the community room, remove your shoes, and relax while you wait for your treatment to begin.
-Your practitioner will greet you, inquire about your health and the status of your progress. They may also feel your pulses and evaluate your tongue. At this point your treatment will begin and once the points are in place, it is time for you to sit back and relax and let things happen. Try to breathe deep and let go of any stress. Meditation and/or napping are wonderful ways to get the most out of your acupuncture session. Regular visits usually last around an hour. Let your acupuncturist know if you are uncomfortable in anyway.
Sensations
The overall process of receiving acupuncture is reported by most people as being relaxing, restorative and restful. During needle insertion, there may be a short poking or needle-like sensation that will go away quickly. Occasionally a needle may need to be removed and re-inserted if this sensation lasts. Usually a dull ache, numbing, tingling or full sensation is reported. This is not only normal, but expected as it indicates that the point has connected to and activated your vital energy or Qi, (pronounced "chee"). Once all of the needles have been inserted, you may forget that they are there and slip into a state of relaxation drifting in and out of consciousness. Many people report sensations or movements of energy within their bodies. Feelings like water running under the skin, swirling movements or warm sensation are all normal.
After Your Session
Once all of the points have been removed, you will be encouraged to take a few moments to collect yourself, your thoughts and return to the present moment. Most people have a deep sense of relaxation, stress relief and report feeling a bit "out of it" in a good way. Try and avoid excess stress or exertion after a treatment. A sensation that some of the needles are still there is normal and usually goes away after a while. You can gently massage any spots that remain tender. Observe and keep track of how you feel the hours and days after your session. Your feedback is vital to our ability to treat you effectively. Please feel free to raise any concerns or questions that you have with us.
What can you expect in terms of results? This is a question that is best answered by your practitioner after they have done their initial evaluation and treatment with you. Everyone is different in terms of age, overall health, lifestyle, diet and of course severity of illness. This means that a potential outcome from acupuncture therapy cannot be known without taking all of these factors into effect. With this in mind, the following are some general guidelines:
- Acute conditions typically respond faster and it is better to treat them 2-3 times per week for a couple of weeks than treating them once a week for say six weeks.
- Chronic conditions respond more slowly.
- A month of weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture therapy for every year that a condition has been going on is usually necessary for chronic conditions.
- Following the suggestions of your practitioner in terms of diet and lifestyle will speed up and improve your results.
- Most people see some degree of relief or improvement in their condition within 2-6 visits.
- Some people have miraculous results after only one treatment, while others may get no relief at all for a condition that acupuncture typical treats very well.
- The process of acupuncture therapy involves a relationship between you and the practitioner. The better your acupuncturist knows you, the more effective your sessions will be.
Our pledge is that we will deal with your and treat your condition as openly, honestly and effectively as possible. If we sense that you would be better served by another modality or another acupuncturist then we will let you know. We are driven to be the best, most effective practitioners we can be. Part of that commitment is the knowledge that we cannot help everyone all of the time.