Your Initial Visit
At your first visit, you will discuss with Gretchen in detail the health issues that have brought you to the clinic. This is an opportunity to review your health status in a comprehensive way, including your health history from childhood, family history, living patterns and habits. Gretchen will evaluate your tongue and feel the quality of your pulse, two of Chinese medicine's objective measures of the body's condition. After a discussion of your condition as it is explained by Chinese medicine, you will lie down comfortably and receive an acupuncture treatment.
At the initial visit, you will also discuss with Gretchen a treatment plan, which may include other modalities such as cupping, moxa, herbal medicine and dietary supplements. You will likely receive dietary and lifestyle recommendations, which will help strengthen the treatment and hasten your recovery. Gretchen may recommend ongoing acupuncture treatment, the frequency of which ranges from twice a week to once monthly, depending on the duration and complexity of the health issue.
Your Next Visit
At each follow-up visit, you will be invited to report any changes noted in symptoms, as well as your experience with other aspects of the treatment. Additions or changes to the treatment plan will be discussed, and an acupuncture treatment will follow.