Balanced Health & Beauty

A Treatment Session

The first visit to the clinic begins by filling out some forms to provide important background information.   During the initial interview you will be given an opportunity to discuss your health problem in depth.  For subsequent visits, a shorter discussion on the progress would be done. Because Oriental Medicine addresses the entire body and not just individual symptoms, you will be asked a number of different questions that may not seem related to your conditions but will help to form an overall picture of how your entire body system is functioning.

A sample of some questions you will be asked include how hot or cold you normally feel, your energy level, your emotions/mood, the presence of any sweating, state of digestion, any aches or pains, bowel movements, urination, and sleep.   The interview will also include an examination of the pulse and tongue, and may include palpation (gentle pressing) of the abdomen.

The Pulse and Tongue  The pulse and tongue examinations are two pillars of Oriental Medicine diagnosis. The pulse is taken not only for rate but also for strength, depth, and quality.  Traditionally there are 28 different pulse types, and many of these can be present in combination.  The pulse provides deep insight into how the body is functioning.  The tongue also reflects the internal state of the body's organs.  The tongue shape and size, color, coat, and presence of any irregularities are all closely noted to gain greater understanding of how your body is functioning.

After this information is collected, an Oriental Medicine diagnosis is formed and a treatment plan decided.  This dictates which body points are selected for acupuncture and which herbs will be prescribed in an herbal formula.  Both acupuncture & herbal Medicine aim to correct the imbalance of energy in the body.   Ultimately, all diagnoses can be broken down to an imbalance of Yin and Yang in the body.

The Treatment  An Acupuncture treatment is usually performed with the patient lying either face up or face down on a massage table.  A typical treatment will include about eight to twelve points for needling, but may include less or more depending on your circumstances.  The needles are retained for about 20 to 30 minutes, during which time you will be given a chance to relax and allow the needles to take effect.   

Depending on the situation, the treatment may also be supplemented with electrical stimulation and Tui Na (Chinese massage).   Exercise and dietary counseling may also be provided at the end of the treatment session.

After the Treatment   Acupuncture treatment elicits a state of calm and relaxation that many people compare to receiving a massage.   After receiving a treatment, many people express they feel a sense of well being that is difficult to describe in words. You may also feel slightly tired as though you have just had a massage.

Herbal Prescription   After the Acupuncture session, you may also be given an herbal prescription.  The prescription may be in the form of pills, powder, or bags of herbal ingredient to prepare into herbal tea.  Instruction will be given on the preparation/decoction of the herbal ingredient to obtain the herbal tea.