Yes, acupuncture is safe for people of any age! (In some instances children actually respond more quickly than adults.) If your child has an aversion to needles, there are other options we can try, including massage (acupressure or tuina) the acupuncture points or channels, moxa, cupping, and ear seeds.

Note: The youngest age we accept for new patients is 10 years old.

Herbs can be a powerful adjunct to acupuncture care. They are used to strengthen, build and support the body or to clear it of excess problems like a cold, fever or acute pain. Your practitioner may suggest starting with herbs and then adding acupuncture to your treatment in the future. This is suggested to build up your internal strength so you can receive the full benefits acupuncture has to offer.

The tongue is a map of the body. It reflects the general health of the organs and acupuncture channels. Your acupuncturist will look at the color, shape, cracks and coating on your tongue. Looking at the tongue is especially important for diagnosing patterns to treat with herbals. Try to avoided items with food dyes, coating the tongue with gentian violet, or other medicinals that stain before your appointment.

There are twelve pulse positions on each wrist that your acupuncturist will palpate. Each position corresponds to a specific meridian and organ. Your acupuncturist will be looking for twenty-seven individual qualities that reflect overall health. If there are any problems, they may appear in the pulse.

During the initial visit a full health history will be taken. Questions will be asked regarding symptoms, health, and lifestyle. Your acupuncturist also may check pulses and your tongue and may conduct a physical exam. This information is then organized to create a complete, accurate and comprehensive diagnosis of where Qi has become blocked or imbalanced. After the interview process, you typically receive an acupuncture treatment. The first visit with your acupuncturist usually lasts about ninety minutes on average. Follow-up visits typically last about an hour on average and include brief discussion of any changes since the previous treatment followed by the acupuncture treatment.