Uchida Acupuncture

Do I need to do anything to prepare for my first visit?

Eat a good meal at least 30 minutes before your office visit. This will minimize the possibility of experiencing
nausea, dizziness or light-headedness during your acupuncture treatment. If you regularly scrape or brush
your tongue, please refrain from doing so the day of your visit. Examining the shape, color and coating on
your tongue is an important diagnostic indicator, especially for internal medicine complaints. Scraping away
the coating increases the chances of a misdiagnosis.

If possible, bring another driver along with you. After the first treatment, it is not uncommon to feel suddenly
tired or giddy. Again, eating a good meal beforehand decreases your chances of this happening.

download First Treatment Primer (pdf file)

What does acupuncture feel like?

Many people fear acupuncture because of their painful experiences with hypodermic needles used for
immunizations and blood draws. The reason hypodermic needles cause pain is that they tend to tear the
skin upon insertion. In contrast, acupuncture needles are hair-thin and penetrate the skin without tearing.
The result is that you often do not feel the needle being inserted at all.

You may feel a muscle twitch, a slight achiness around the needle or a traveling electric sensation. This is
called the "needling sensation". Although it may feel a bit uncomfortable, eliciting a needling sensation is
widely thought to enhance the effects of your treatment. In fact, many Chinese feel that acupuncture is not
effective unless they feel a strong needling sensation.

How long will my treatments last, and how many treatments do I need?

Your acupuncture treatments will generally last between 45-60 minutes. I will make every effort to see you
promptly at your scheduled appointment time. Please be aware that you may be asked to reschedule your
appointment if you are over 15 minutes late since your remaining time may not be long enough to receive a
full treatment.

The number of visits required to effectively treat your complaint will depend upon its severity, how long it
has lasted, and whether there are complicating factors that may slow progress. An uncomplicated acute
muscle strain may only take 4-5 treatments over the course of two weeks. However, a complicated
long-standing complaint like fibromyalgia may require several months. In all cases, you can expect periodic
re-evaluations to gauge your progress and decide whether to continue your acupuncture therapy.

Are there any side-effects to acupuncture?

There are remarkably few side-effects, and the ones that may occur are temporary. The most common
side-effect is drowsiness immediately after a treatment. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as many people
describe the feeling as relaxing. In 10-15% of cases, there is a temporary exacerbation of symptoms lasting
1-2 day, often followed by a greater level of relief. This effect is actually a good sign, because we know
that acupuncture is affecting the areas involved.

Other less common side-effects are light-headedness or nausea during needle insertion (a vascular response
of the autonomic nervous system) or a feeling of giddiness afterwards. Occasionally, you may bruise where
a needle was inserted. This is more common in people taking blood-thinning medications.

What else do I need to know about my acupuncture treatments?

Healing is ultimately in your hands - I am not a mechanic, and you are not a machine. The more you actively
participate in your own healing, the better your chances for a speedy recovery. For instance, if you are
prescribed an herbal remedy, they must be taken consistently in order to work. If you follow my advice for
self-treatment, dietary or lifestyle changes, you will feel better more quickly. When you begin Oriental
medical treatment, you are entering into a partnership with your acupuncturist to improve your health. I will
utilize all my experience and expertise to facilitate your healing, but nothing will be gained without your
participation.

download Patient Expectations Primer (pdf file)

What about Chinese herbal medicine?

Herbal and nutritional supplements have become increasingly popular over the last 10 years. They are easily
found not only health food markets, but your local drug store and supermarket as well.

Office Visit

What will my first visit be like?

Expect to spend about one hour for your first visit to
Uchida Acupuncture. If you did not download and
complete the New Patient Packet prior to your visit,
please arrive 15-20 minutes early to do so upon your
arrival. You can also go to the New Patients page and
both register and schedule appointments online. In
addition, please bring any prior medical reports and lab
results you possess that are related to your medical
complaint.

Your first visit will consist of a medical history followed
by a physical exam. This will be your most important visit
to Uchida Acupuncture. A careful examination followed
by a well-reasoned diagnosis is your best assurance for
an effective acupuncture treatment plan. If the diagnosis is
readily apparent, or if you are suffering acute pain or
discomfort that needs to be addressed immediately, you
may receive an acupuncture treatment on your first visit
as time permits. Otherwise, you will be asked to schedule
another visit when you will be presented with a treatment
plan that maps out the most appropriate course of
therapy. In this case, actual treatments will begin on your
second visit.