What to expect at the Initial Visit:
Do you want to move your qi (chi)? Acupuncture is an ancient healing therapy designed to help your body systems attain balance and smooth the flow of the body’s energies (qi). Contemporary acupuncture is the insertion of single-use needles, as thin as a human hair into specific points along the body. After the insertion of the acupuncture needle, you may be able to experience an immediate sense of well-being or a gradual awareness that constricted muscles or emotions are becoming eased. You may find yourself in a Theta state of deep relaxation similar to meditation.
Chi Nei Tsang harkens from a tradition even older than acupuncture. The ancient Taoist sages realized the importance of oneness with nature, including the nature of the self. This practice is a gentle abdominal massage. The patient is encouraged to focus on breathing into areas of sensation on the abdomen. Chi Nei Tsang encourages a connection with subtle energies of the body focused in the area of the abdomen like reflexology focuses on the feet. Quiet body awareness and breathing can promote the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. In this way, a Chi Nei Tsang session is like a silent, hands-on guided meditation.
On your first visit:
You will be asked about your most recent health concerns and your history of wellness. Your questions, concerns and personal story will be listened to intently in order to develop a Traditional Asian Medical diagnosis. A pulse taken from both arms as well as a diagnosis of your tongue will further inform which organ systems or meridians will be most important to balance in your acupuncture treatment. Chi Nei Tsang will be primarily practiced on the abdomen, an area known to be directly related to the mind, emotions, and all of the meridians of the body.
Before an Acupuncture and Chi Nei Tsang visit:
Please be sure to eat a small amount of food so that you are not hungry or lightheaded. A large meal or copious consumption of liquid is not recommended either before or after the treatment. Proper hydration is however essential. Please refrain from vigorous exercise before and after the treatment. The sympathetic nervous system or fight or flight mode may not be able to transition smoothly to the relaxed parasympathetic system when we are hungry or have recently participated in intense activities. Alcohol and drug use, unless you are taking prescription medications, is to be avoided before and after acupuncture sessions. Please avoid getting acupuncture when experiencing a hangover as acupuncture will promote homeostasis by intensifying detoxification.
On the therapy table:
You will be receiving a session from 45 minimum to 120 maximum minutes in length.
You are welcome to receive any variety of acupuncture, massage (15 minutes), Chi Nei Tsang, energy work, moxibustion, gua sha, e-stim, and ear and scalp acupuncture. This depends on what you deem feels most appropriate for your body on the day of your session.
Fees/Rates:
New Patient Acupuncture Sessions are 90-120 minutes at $200 and include a detailed health intake and a minimum of 15 minutes of massage. Fifteen minutes of this session are allotted to filling out paperwork.
Follow-up Acupuncture Sessions are 75 minutes at $175 and include 20 minutes of massage.
You are welcome to include an extra 15 minutes of massage to any session for $30.
If you are looking for just massage or Chi Nei Tsang, these full sessions are 60 minutes long with 45 minutes on the table at $150. There are fifteen minutes devoted to discussion and a bit of buffer time for entering and leaving the appointment space.
Refer a friend and you will both receive a $30 reduction in fees for one session. Please mention it is your birthday week for a $30 reduction in fees.
In some cases, a trade or barter option may be available.
Please honor our 48-hour cancellation policy to free up space for wait-listed patients. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the scheduled visit for any reason will be charged a $35 cancellation fee. Thank you for understanding that small businesses rely on having office visit times filled.