What to Expect
Before treatment
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Avoid Acupuncture on an empty stomach. Please drink water and eat some food or snacks within 2 hours of your appointment. Both dehydration and low blood sugar can cause patients to feel light-headed during or after their treatment and may increase sensitivity to the needle sensation. But eat too much may cause uncomfortable while lying face down during the Meridian Massage.
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Please do not brush your tongue or eat foods that stain (e.g. Coffee) prior to your appointment, but don’t worry if you forget.
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Working out is fine before the treatment. The Meridian Massage and Acupuncture will help you relax your mind and body after exercising.
During treatment
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To achieve the best result, please silence your cell phone. You should relax, stay peaceful and quite during the treatment. To relax the body and mind, during the treatment try to stay still, being nervous may cause the body tense up and be more sensitive to the needle sensation. If you move, some of the needles may fall out.
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The needle sensation is more sensitive on the pain area, joints, tendons and muscles than the fatty tissue. In most cases, we use electronic stimulation with Acupuncture which sends vibrations to the muscle. Most people love the sensation and want to feel it as much as they can handle while still feeling comfortable. Usually, the body gets used to the sensation after 5-10 minutes, the vibration feels not as strong as the begining but the electric current didn’t change. For people who do not want to feel the vibration, we can adjust the vibration on a low current that people can not feel it or use the manual stimulation.
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Suction cups with heat causes a vacuum and strong pulling sensation initially, but the sensation will go less and less over time. This procedure only takes 10-15 minutes. Remember cupping will leave marks on your skin for a few days.
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For some people it is normal to feel congested or have a running nose while lying face down. After treatment it will stop when you turn face up.
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New Patient Intake: At your first appointment, we will need you to fill out some paperwork, and then give you an office call go through your paperwork and ask you detailed questions about your health concerns, health history, current symptoms,etc. After the office call we will take you to the treatment room give you a quick physical exam before the treatment. This will take 45-60 minutes.
After treatment
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Acupuncture occasionally causes a little bleeding after taking out a needle, but by applying pressure the bleeding will stop and won’t cause any problem.
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Please take you time and get up slowly from the treatment table so that you won’t feel dizzy from lying face down so long. It’s helpful to turn face up for 3-5 minutes after the treatment. Then stand up slowly to avoid postural hypotension. (Postural hypotension is a condition in which your blood pressure falls significantly when you stand up quickly, it can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.)
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Since the treatment works on circulation, energy flow and detoxification, after the treatment you should drink plenty of water and take it easy for a few hours after your treatment, it helps you flush toxins and acidic wastes out of your system. An apple cider vinegar drink is also recommended, mix one tablespoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar with one cup of water and drink it 2-3 times on the treatment day.
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The same day after treatment, avoid heavy physical activities, cardio exercise, hot yoga and swimming. You can do these activities before treatment or wait until the next day. Walking or doing light stretching to help relieve pain and stress is fine.
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In rare situations, very few people will feel a little weak or the symptoms may worsen before getting better. The treatment speeds up detoxification, increases circulation and rebalances energy flow, so you may feel a little different from before, but it won’t worsen the health issue. Take it easy, relax and drink plenty of fluids and you should feel better in one or two days.
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If you take herbs, please take them 30 minutes before or after your medications, food and other supplements.