Your first visit usually takes about 1½ hours. We spend time talking about your concerns. You will be asked many different questions - some you will expect and others will seem unusual or different from what you may have experienced when visiting other health care practitioners. As part of the examination I will feel your pulse and look at your tongue.

We will talk about your Chinese Medicine diagnosis and what it means. If you are scheduled to receive acupuncture you will receive your first treatment at the time of your appointment. Most patients enjoy treatments and find them relaxing. All needles are sterile and used only one time. You may feel a small prick lasting a couple of seconds when the needle is inserted. Once the needle is in place you may not feel anything or it might feel heavy or achy or even have a slight electric sensation, but it should not typically feel painful and hurt.

Your treatment may include other modalities, such as:

Moxa - an herb that is burned. It has many different forms - I may put it on the end of the needle to burn or even send you home with a type that looks like a big cigar.

Cups - a vacuum is created inside a glass cup and then it is placed on different parts of the body. It may stay in one place or be moved over an area such as your back.

Guasha - a form of bodywork often using a Chinese porcelain spoon that is massaged over specific body areas.

We want you to understand your treatment and will do our best to explain the process. There are many variations of oriental medicine - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 5 element, Japanese, Korean, so even if it's not your first time receiving acupuncture there may be some differences. Isn't it time you tried oriental medicine to see what a difference it can make for you!

Kiiko style and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) are both based on the Chinese classics and modern medical pathophysiology to bring out the best in both. The style is very "hands on" and is based on palpation of active reflexes on the abdomen (the hara), neck, back and their corresponding treatment points. This system of palpation and feedback gives the practitioner and patient immediate feedback on both the Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment. Treatment generally begins by first treating active reflexes in the abdomen and neck. Change in how these reflexes feel gives us both a measure of effectiveness. The treatment often consists of two or three sets of needles per treatment session.

Electricity can be added to the needles, pads or probes.

Herbal formulas are an important part of Oriental Medicine. Several different types of herbal supplements are offered.

These are prepared formulas generally in the form of pills, capsules or tinctures. Many of these are manufactured in China. The distributors we use test their products for the presence of heavy metals and other substances. A one week supply of pills will generally cost from between five and forty dollars. We use products from Golden Flower, Health Concerns, Evergreen, Minshan, Blue Poppy, Kan, Herbal Times, Far East Summit and Mayway. Chinese patent medicines may not be designed specifically for you, so you may be required to take more than one formula to get the best results.

Granules have the advantage of being tailored specifically for you and can be adjusted based on your response. A weekly dose for one formula is approximately 42 - 64 gms. The weekly cost for each formula is about $15.00. The granules are mixed in water and may have a slightly unpleasant taste. For an additional charge we can make these into capsules for you or you may purchase supplies to make your own capsules.

We all want to look younger. Our face reflects are inner health. Vibrational Beauty Therapy (VBT) not only has positive results as a facial de-aging process, but also helps your whole body at the same time. VBT combines several powerful beautifying and energy balancing modalities. These include microcurrent electrical stimulation through acupoints, color therapy, microcurrent massage and specifically formulated products for your face. The results are beautiful glowing skin in a relaxed and energized body.