What to wear?
Because I prefer you remain dressed for your appointment, wearing comfortable, loose-fitting, stretchy clothing is recommended.
Loose comfortable clothes that can be easily pushed up past your elbows and knees are best. I'd prefer to push up clothes as needed rather than asking you to remove them.
Some people prefer to carry their baggy clothing to the appointment and change when they arrive. Other great clothing options include shorts, long skirts, wide-leg sweats or lounge pants. The best bra is one that opens in the back or just a tank top.
Arrival
When you arrive at Depot Square, Peterborough, find a parking spot nearby or across the footbridge in the Municipal Lot. The front door is to the left of Hobbs Jewelry. Ride the elevator or take the stairs. You will find an accessible bathroom just off the elevator on the 3rd floor. My office is just down the hall, suite 9.
Introduction
My office is where you will have your treatment, and I will gather the information I need to treat you. At first, we will take a few moments to talk and find out what you need. Then I will ask you to take off your shoes and socks and remove any jewelry around your wrists. A comfortable and warmed treatment table awaits you to lie down, put your feet up, and relax.
Acugraph
Every medical field specializes in a different system of the body to help it heal. An acupuncturist specializes in meridians, a system of channels where energy flows. I use a diagnostic tool, Acugraph, that allows me and you "see" the meridian channels. While you relax, I will ask you to hold a small metal bar with one hand while I rest a cotton-tipped probe dipped in water on six places on each wrist and ankle. The probe reads the number of Ohms running through each of your twelve meridians and then plots it on a colorful graph on my computer. You can watch the computer screen while I check each meridian. At the end of each treatment, you will receive a copy of your graph with an explanation in a HIPA secure email from me.
Diagnosis
When I have the right amount of information to form a diagnosis, I will develop a prescription of acupuncture points that I will needle to treat the root cause and symptoms of your main complaint. You will rest with the needles for 15-20 minutes. Some people like to pray or meditate; many fall asleep with the first needle or two.
Treatment
During the treatment, you may ask questions, relax or fall asleep. Most patients feel a deep sense of calm and relaxation. I will check in several times about the comfort of the needles.
Near the end of your treatment, I will remove the one-time-use needles and place them in a sharps container. You will have time to ask questions, collect your things, pay, and book your next appointment.