Intro to Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
New to acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine? You're not alone. I've guided hundreds of first-timers over 16 years, and most people feel both curious and a little nervous. Here's what to expect.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture uses tiny, hair-thin needles to help your body come back into balance. I call them "eyelashes with a handle." I use the smallest sterile, single-use needles available, so most people barely feel them.
All About Acupuncture
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture works along meridians, which are pathways that run through the whole body, roughly following blood vessels, fascia, and nerves. They start or end in the hands and feet, so a point on your foot can ease pain in your low back. The needles act like tiny tuning forks. They improve circulation and calm your nervous system, which helps the rest of your body get back to working normally.
Your first visit
We'll talk about what's going on, and I'll check your wrist pulse and take a quick look at your tongue.
You'll relax in a cushioned recliner with your sleeves and pant legs rolled up.
I'll place needles mostly in your arms, legs, head, and ears. Your body isn't a collection of separate parts; it's one living, connected whole. So even if you’re coming in for pain in one area, I’ll treat all of you.
Then you rest for about 45 minutes. Most people drift into deep relaxation or fall asleep, as the body shifts into rest-and-repair mode.
The effects keep unfolding over the next day or two.
How much acupuncture will I need?
A new problem may clear up in 1–3 treatments. Long-standing issues usually need weekly visits for a while, and each one builds on the last as your body learns to hold the change. We'll make a simple plan at your first visit. Once you're feeling better, many people come in as needed or for regular tune-ups.
All About Chinese Herbs
What Are Chinese Herbs?
Chinese herbs come from a 2,000-year-old tradition and pair beautifully with acupuncture. These aren't generic teas or mass-produced tinctures; rather, I make a custom formula just for you, based on your symptoms, sleep, energy, and digestion. As one of my teachers says, the right formula is like a key fitting a lock.
I use granules, which are powdered herbal teas you mix with a little hot water and take 1–3 times a day. They're easy to take and affordable, about $10–20 a week. I source high-quality herbs from trusted suppliers. I'll always ask about any medications or supplements you take, so your formula is safe and precise.
Ways I use herbs:
Quick help for acute illness: a short 5–6 day formula when a cold, cough, or upset stomach first shows up, so it doesn't get worse or linger. Just text me what's going on and I'll have it ready for pickup.
Sleep: formulas to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, including when pain keeps you up at night.
Reproductive and hormonal health: herbs alongside acupuncture to support cycles, fertility, and hormonal transitions.
Serious or chronic conditions: for deeper, long-standing issues, we start with a short consultation and build a formula that works steadily over weeks with your acupuncture.
Many people feel better right away! With longer-term formulas, it may take some time to correct a serious imbalance, but you should still notice positive changes early on.
Ready to Give It a Try?
Now you know the basics: acupuncture and herbs are gentle partners in healing, and I’m here to make it simple for you. I’d love to help you feel better. Book a session now, but if you have more questions, see below or contact me!
Quick FAQs:
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Does acupuncture hurt?
It shouldn’t! I’ve spent years perfecting gentle, pain-free techniques, and I’m proud to successfully treat even the most staunch needle-phobes. The most common response first-timers say after I put the first needle in is, “Oh! That’s nothing!” I tell people to think of the needles (which are tiny, barely larger than eyelashes) more like tuning forks than like any syringes or shots you’ve experienced in a medical setting.
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Do I need insurance or a referral to schedule and appointment?
Not at all. The sliding scale is available to everyone. If you do have insurance and want to see if you’re covered, simply add the required information to your first appointment. If you run out of visits at some point or your insurance changes, you can simply just start paying the sliding-scale fee of your choice.
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Can I be treated for more than one issue at a time?
Absolutely. Most of us have one main issue that brings us in, but you’ll notice that I always check in about your sleep, digestive health, stress levels, and other markers. Acupuncture is a holistic system that is meant to restore harmony and natural function to all of you, even if what brought you in is a sore hip or a tight neck. And should you have bigger challenges, a series of treatments will often start to simplify matters so that we can focus more in future sessions.
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What should I wear to my treatment?
It’s nice to be able to roll up your sleeves to your elbows, and your pants to your knees, though if you are coming straight from work in clothes that aren’t as flexible, I can work with that. If you have knee or shoulder pain, it can be helpful to put needles directly on those locations, so bringing a pair of shorts or a tank top to change into is useful.
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How can you treat back pain in a recliner chair?
If you have pain in the low back, I don't have to place any needles in your back. Instead, I’ll place needles in your feet and hands, where the meridians that run through your back begin and end. These are considered the most powerful points in the body, and also the safest for treatment. However, some people really benefit from direct needling to the back, and in those cases we’ll use a table in the bodywork room for your treatment.
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How many treatments will I need?
It depends on what’s going on and how your health is overall. While many people will feel relief or a measurable lessening of symptoms within 24 hours of the first treatment, others will need more time. Acupuncture works by slowly changing the way your body is balanced, and this isn’t something that typically happens in one treatment. Your body needs time to learn how to balance itself, so it won’t revert to its old ways.
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Do I need to follow a treatment plan in order to come in?
Not at all. If you have an intense, long-term, or complex problem that you want to work on, I’ll suggest a treatment plan that usually covers several weeks or months. But if you just want to come in on an as-needed basis to recover from acute issues like overdoing it at the gym, or high-stress weeks, that is also fine. Community acupuncture is a flexible tool meant to work for you!
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I'm not sure how the sliding scale works.
The lower end of the sliding scale is meant to make it easy for more people to afford treatments. The higher end allows you to support the longevity of the community room. You decide each visit what makes sense for you- your treatment is the same no matter what!
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Will Demetra show me pictures of her sheep?
Yes! And you don’t even have to ask; she’ll probably just do it anyway.