What to expect & how to get the most out of your acupuncture treatments:

We believe that empowered clients get quicker and better results overall. Empowered clients take the time to educate themselves about the process they are undertaking. They prepare for their visits, participate fully during their session and engage the practitioner with appropriate questions. Read on to become empowered! ​

Contact & Scheduling

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Your first visit:

Welcome to Bend Community Acupuncture, LLC! This will be an opportunity for you to meet with your acupuncturist to discuss your  your current concerns and your journey in getting to this point. We will do a complete health history, physical evaluation and give you an idea of what to expect during your treatments. Please plan on your initial visit lasting about 1.5 hours. The following are some things you need to know to get the most out of your session: 

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• If you need to fill out paper work, plan to arrive at the clinic 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time  You can save time by downloading the New Patient Forms and completing them in advance.
• Bathe the day of your session.
• Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing:
  1. Pants that come comfortably above your knees and that have a stretchy waist band.
  2. Wear layers on top. Women please consider a loose tank top under a comfy shirt.
  3. Don't wear jewelry or adornments that cannot be EASILY removed.
  4. You will be instructed how best to dress for future visits during your initial visit.

• Have something to eat a few hours before your treatment. You don't want to be hungry or overly full during acupuncture.
  
• Get plenty of rest the night before a treatment. 
  
• Tongue, complexion and pulse diagnosis are an integral part of your evaluation, so please avoid the following: 
  
  1. ​​​Coffee, tea, excess sugar or any other food item such as candy or gum that may influence either the color of your tongue or your pulse rate. 
     
  2. Brushing your tongue. 
     
  3. Wearing make-up.
• Allow for a few extra minutes for parking, checking-in and to relax before your session. 

Do not wear any perfume, cologne or other strongly scented body products to our clinic. Those wearing strong scents or who have a strong odor may be asked to reschedule their appointments. 

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Treatments:

• Help yourself to water and please visit the restroom if necessary. 
  
• Out of courtesy to others and to keep you focused on your session, we insist that you silence your cell phone or any other electronic devices BEFORE entering the clinic. Please use a low voice and keep noise to an absolute minimum while in the clinic. 

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Sensations:

The overall process of receiving acupuncture is reported by most people as being relaxing, restorative and restful. During needle insertion, there may be a short poking or needle-like sensation on some of the points, but it will go away quickly. Occasionally a needle may need to be removed and re-inserted if this sensation lasts. Once all of the needles have been inserted, you may forget that they are there and slip into a state of relaxation, drifting in and out of consciousness. Many people report sensations or movements of energy within their bodies. Feelings like: water running under the skin, swirling movements or a warm sensation are all normal.  

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After your session:

Once all of the points have been removed, you will be encouraged to take a few moments to collect yourself, your thoughts and return to the present moment. Most people have a deep sense of relaxation, stress relief and report feeling a bit "out of it" in a good way. Try and avoid excess stress or exertion after a treatment. A sensation that some of the needles are still there is normal and usually goes away after a while. You can gently massage any spots that remain tender. Observe and keep track of how you feel the hours and days after your session. Your feedback is vital to our ability to treat you effectively. Please feel free to raise any concerns or questions that you have.

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Expectations:

What can you expect in terms of results? This is a question that is best answered by your practitioner after they have done their initial evaluation and treatment. Everyone is different in terms of age, overall health, lifestyle, diet and of course severity of illness. This means that a potential outcome from acupuncture therapy cannot be known without taking all of these factors into effect. With this in mind, the following are some general guidelines: ​

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• Acute conditions typically respond faster to treatment and it is generally better to treat them with more frequency. A good strategy is 2-3 times per week for several weeks. 
• Chronic conditions respond more slowly. 
• A month of weekly or bi-weekly acupuncture therapy for every year that a condition has been going on is often necessary for chronic conditions. 
• Following the recommendations of your practitioner regarding herbs, supplements, diet and lifestyle will speed up and improve your results. 
• Most people see some degree of relief or improvement in their condition within 2-6 visits. 
• The process of acupuncture therapy involves a relationship between you and your practitioner. The better your acupuncturist knows you, the more effective your sessions will be.

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Remember that there is no one form of medicine or therapy that has all of the answers and that can treat or cure all diseases. Acupuncture is a very effective, safe and cost effective form of medicine. However, it is only one modality amongst many and may not be appropriate for all conditions.  Here is a list of some of the conditions that acupuncture can treat. 

Our commitment is to treat you and your health concerns as openly, honestly and effectively as possible. If we sense that you would be better served by another modality or practitioner then we will let you know. We are driven to be the best practitioners we can be. Thank you for your trust!

Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland