New Patients
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We love new patients at Jade Blossom Acupuncture, whether you have never had acupuncture, or already know how marvelous the needles can be. In the menu above you will find a link to our forms which can be filled out at home before your first visit. This saves time when you arrive. If you choose to fill these out in our office, please come at least 20 minutes early to have time to fill them out.
If this is your first time for acupuncture, it is best to wear comfortble, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to your lower legs, arms, and abdomen. You will not be required to disrobe, unless I need access to your back, due to your particular syndrome. Therefore, I don't recommend a dress or similar one-piece outfit - better something like pants and a blouse.
It is also important that you not be hungry. Acupucture on an empty stomach can cause light-headedness, which can be uncomfortable or distressing.
At your first visit I will take a full medical history, including whatever prescription medicines, OTC medicines, OTC supplements, vitamins, or herbs that you are currently taking. Knowing exactly what you are taking gives me the knowledge I need to tailor your treatment. It is also important to keep me informed of any changes in your regimen.
After the interview, you will lie down on the treatment table, and I will take your pulse, look at your tongue, examine your lower arms and legs, and gently palpate your abdomen. These are all diagnostic procedures in the Japanese Toyohari tradition. Then I will put on some relaxing music, and begin your treatment.
Toyohari-style treatment differs radically from the general TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment, in that it is much more than simply putting in 10-20 needles and letting the patient rest for 20-30 minutes. It begins with using a sterile, disposable, non-insertive silver needle on points indicated to balance the Qi in the meridians. Treatment continues with any of several techniques: using a heavier non-insertive gold needle on a specific point, or a cone-shaped silver tool called a zanshin (wonderful for loosening up tight shoulders), or zinc and copper disks to balance the polarities in the deeper meridians. Very often I will use the herb artemesia in the form of "moxa" - this herb is made into a tiny thread or cone, and placed on the body and lit. As it burns down a small amount of smoke will be produced, and I will remove the moxa from your body before it burns down to the skin. At the end of the treatment I may or may not insert some needles very shallowly, and allow you to rest quietly for 15 minutes or so.
Your first treatment will last up to an hour and a half, with subsequent treatments lasting up to an hour.
Smoking Cessation/Substance Abuse
The protocol is different for patients who are coming for smoking cessation or substance abuse. It is very important that these patients be nicotine and/or drug free for at least 24 hours before the treatment, because addiction acupuncture treats the symptoms that happen when in withdrawal, supporting the patient in going through that process. Having your last cigarette right before you come into the building for your treatment defeats the whole purpose of the treatment. The needles do not remove the symptoms, nor do they give you the fortitude to stay clean - that is up to you! However, they do lessen the body's "panic mode" when withdrawing from nicotine or other addictive substances, making the withdrawal easier to bear. While I will do some things similar to the treatment outlined above, the biggest part of the treatment will be done with auricular (ear) acupuncture. There is a time-tested, international standard protocol of 5 needles in each ear, which are retained for 45 minutes. It is very relaxing, and I would love to be a part of your process to better health.