Acupuncture uses a very fine needle to send a signal to the body to activate a kind of circulation. Really, that's it. Your body takes it from there. Even if you've never had acupuncture before, your body recognizes the signal and says, "Oh ok, I know what to do with that."
There are subtle sensations associated with a good acupuncture point location. You might feel a general sense of heaviness, like dull pressure. Or it may feel like circulation drawing down into the muscle. Sometimes the sensation can be likened to water rippling out from a stone tossed into a pond. In any case, we don't want you to feel stingy in the skin. If you have any discomfort with a point location, I'll move the needle to better spot or remove it altogether.
Most importantly, acupuncture is relaxing. If you feel groggy during the treatment, that's perfectly normal. You'll wake right back up after the 30 to 40 rest period.
Herbal medicines can be combined with acupuncture or taken as a stand alone treatment. Formulas generally contain four or more herbs to create a more balanced and therapeutic effect. The cost of formulas varies quite a lot depending on the ingredients.
I work with granules that are produced by boiling the fresh herbs and then drying the decoction (similar to instant coffee). The granules can be taken either dissolved in water, or if you prefer not to taste the herbs, as tablets or capsules. In any case, the formulas are prepared in Taiwan and meet good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards set by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
After acupuncture treatment for neck, back, and/or shoulder discomfort stemming from muscle tension, we'll sometimes finish with cupping or gua sha. Both help restore blood circulation through tight muscles.
If muscle tension is your primary concern and you're deathly afraid of needles, we can offer a session with cupping or gua sha only.