How to prepare for your first treatment
- Download the four documents on the right side of the screen, fill them out, and bring them in to your appointment. NOTE: Proper nutrition (or lack thereof) often sits at the root of any condition I will be treating you for. I highly recommend checking out my online nutrition program (in the blue box to the right) and signing up for the free content preview before your appointment.
- On the day of your appointment, be sure not to brush your tongue because I will take a look at it. You may brush your teeth, though!
- Wear comfortable clothing that is loose and easy for me to access above the knee and elbow. You will be lying down on a massage table for about 45 minutes, so wear your favorite sweats, PJs or yoga clothes.
- It’s important to eat a good meal before your appointment. In Chinese medicine we receive energy or Qi (“chee”) from our food. And when I insert needles into your body, I am moving your Qi. So, as we say in the biz, “It takes Qi to move Qi.”
- Immortal Palace is located at 3867 Tennyson Street. IMPORTANT: To access my clinic, you must go around to the left side of the building where you will see a door with a welcome sign. Go all the way to the top of the stairs and have a seat in the waiting area. I will be with you shortly.
- Click here to join my mailing list and you will get instant access to 5 videos I created that are jam-packed with useful tips and tricks to de-stress, get out of a funk, eat better for your body, and manage PMS symptoms to name a few. I made them just for you, so enjoy!
What to expect during your treatment
- First we will sit at my desk and talk for half an hour or so. I will ask you about your chief complaint, medical history, diet, exercise, digestion, sleep, menstrual cycle (if you are a woman), among other things.
- Next, you will lie down on the massage table where I will look at your tongue and take your pulses. (Yes, pulses, plural. In Chinese medicine there are nine pulses on each wrist. I know, crazy!)
- Then you will get a little dab of lavender essential oil under your nose and listen to soothing music (I always ask for musical requests, or if you’d like to bring your own CD I’ll happily put that on for you) while I insert the needles. And to answer your burning question, no, the needles do not hurt. There may be a slightly uncomfortable sensation at first — like a pinching, burning, or aching — but it quickly dissipates and the overall feeling is complete and total relaxation. Most of my patients fall asleep during their session. And don’t worry about snoring, I take it as a compliment! Once the needles are in, I will position two heat lamps — one at your feet and one on your tummy or low back, depending on your position. It’s like being back in the womb!
- After 30 minutes of resting, I will come in, turn the lights on, and remove the needles. Sometimes I will perform additional therapies if necessary like moxibustion (heat therapy), cupping (suction therapy), electrical-stimulation, among others. These will be explained to you beforehand. Then you will take your time getting up, getting your shoes on, and coming back to planet earth.
- We will have a seat at my desk again where I will recommend certain dietary or lifestyle changes, prescribe an herbal formula and make your next appointment.
- Then you will float out to your car and try hard to remember what it was you came to see me for.
What to expect after your treatment
- After your treatment, you may feel more emotional than usual. This is normal. We all store emotions in our body — which many times cause the pain or ailment from which we are suffering — so, whenever you have body work done (like acupuncture) it can release these blockages, these stuck emotions. My advice is to express them and let them go. Journaling is a great way to purge old emotions. Write them down and burn it. (Or recycle it.)
- You may also experience a brief time period — a day or so — where your symptoms get a little worse before they go away completely or improve greatly. This is also normal. Think of two teams, Team A (your ailment) and Team B (your body). Before your treatment, Team B is no match for Team A, Team A is just winning without having to try, so it couldn’t really be considered a “battle.” After your treatment, however, Team B has suddenly gained all this power so it starts to fight back and is finally giving Team A a run for its money! A real battle ensues, a.k.a. brief flare-up of symptoms. As Team B builds momentum and gets stronger, the battle dies down and balance is restored. Did you like that analogy?
- Another common experience after a treatment is the feeling of extreme relaxation and euphoria. Make sure to schedule time after your appointment to rest and enjoy the after-effects.
