What to Expect from your Acupuncture Treatment

Clients usually keep their clothes on during treatment. Please wear comfortable and loose fitting clothing if possible so we may reach the acupuncture points below the elbows and knees. It is sometimes necessary to treat a patient’s back. If so, we will carefully screen you while you undress and fully drape your body.

Treatment will be most effective and you will be more comfortable if you:

Eat something within a few hours of your appointment
Avoid excessive caffeinated beverages before treatment
Use the bathroom before finding your treatment area
Plan to move slowly for several hours after treatment (high intensity work-outs, meetings, etc. are best done at another time). If possible, leave time open to rest, nap, or take a walk after your session to allow the treatment to integrate into your system.

Your Treatment

Your practitioner at Boulder Community Acupuncture will come and ask you for details on your response to the last treatment or how you have been since your last visit. She may feel your pulse and look at your tongue, diagnostic tools for Oriental medicine. Appropriate acupuncture points will be selected and carefully needled.

We use only sterile, disposable acupuncture needles. We use them only once and then safely dispose of them so there is never any chance of infection. Very thin needles are used at BCA, as well as careful insertion technique so the treatment is not painful. When the needle is inserted you may feel nothing or the slight sensation like a mosquito bite. With the needles in, it is common to feel either a mild dull achy feeling, or possibly little or no sensation.

Most clients get very relaxed with treatment, and many fall asleep. This is your time. Bring your awareness inward, focus on your breath in the area below the navel, and allow yourself to completely relax. We want you to be as comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please feel free to bring ear plugs or headphones if it helps you to relax. We will provide blankets and eye pillows.

A session usually lasts about 45 to 60 minutes, but it could be more or less according to your needs. Please advise us if there is a specific time you need to leave the clinic. We will track the time so you don’t have to.

At Boulder Community Acupuncture, your practitioner is always nearby and wants to hear from you if you are uncomfortable or if you need anything. When you feel your awareness return more to the outer environment, please call your practitioner who will come to remove the needles. You may now gather your things as the treatment is finished.

Return Visits

For return visits, please follow the Self Check-In procedures at our "Invisible Receptionist" desk, immediately to your left as you walk in the clinic. Instructions are posted on the board above the desk. You will check yourself in, make payment, and set up your next appointment in the schedule book, then leave your shoes and coat in the closet area. Please gather any blankets, bells, or face pillows you need to be ready for treatment. Proceed to make yourself comfortable at a table or recliner chair of your choice. Remove socks, bracelets, watches, etc, as acupuncturists love the powerful points on the feet and hands! Take a moment to lie back and relax. Your practitioner will be right with you.

Treatment Frequency

Acupuncture is most effective when treatments are consistent and frequent. When your symptoms are the worst, we want to see you two or three times per week. As you begin to feel better and better, see us once a week for maintenance. When you are back to 100%, take a break for a few weeks or longer.

Many of our clients come in every one or two weeks because they know it helps them stay healthy --it is their preferred preventative treatment. Every person is unique, and we all respond differently to treatments. Your practitioner will go over an individualized treatment plan with you to help you reach your goals and to get the results that you desire. Proper healing takes time so please be patient with your body.