Health Through Balance

What to wear

Loose, comfortable clothing is always best for treatments, as it provides easy access to your knees and elbows, and it provides you an even greater chance for complete relaxation. If you are unable to wear loose clothing, sheets and towels are always available to cover up, should you need to remove constricting clothing for your treatment.

Consultation

To improve the treatment experience and outcome of your visit, please remember to:

• Fill out the forms emailed to you with the appointment confirmation. This will save time for your treatment. There is no need to print the forms, just fill them up on the secure server and they will be in your file when you come for your appointment.
• Avoid scheduling acupuncture before or after a really strenuous activity.
• Do not come for acupuncture on an empty stomach or after eating a really heavy meal. A regular or light meal 1 to 2 hours before your appointment is best. Receiving acupuncture on an empty stomach may lead to lightheadedness, dizziness or even fainting.
• Expect a lengthy interview process during your first appointment. Questions about your sleeping patterns, digestive and urinary function, sexual function, emotional quality and basic level of stress are typical, as well as detailed descriptions of your bowel movements, urination, and menstruation for women. Many conditions may have a root cause in other apparently unrelated systems. Answering these questions completely honestly will increase the accuracy of diagnosis and therefore the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Try to avoid caffeine within 3 hours of your appointment. “Recent research in mice suggests that ingesting even a low dose of caffeine may interfere with the analgesic effects of acupuncture in acute and chronic pain models.” (Read full article)
• It is important not to scrape or brush your tongue on the day of your treatment. Additionally, eating highly colored foods or drinking highly colored drinks (like orange soft drinks or coffee) may impede diagnosis. It is important for the practitioner to be able to observe the color of the tongue body, the quality and color of the “fur” on the tongue as well as the general shape and any deviations in form.
• Communication is key, so if there is ever anything that is even mildly uncomfortable physically or otherwise during your treatment, be sure to let your practitioner know.

Payment

Payment is due at the time of service. Cash, credit cards, & flex-spending/health-savings cards are all acceptable methods of payment (HSA or FSA cards). My practice is in network with several insurance providers for acupuncture patients. In order to best serve you I can verify your insurance benefits before you arrive. Please give me a call: 619-252-0535.

Cancellation Policy

As a courtesy to my other patients and to me, please notify me 24 hours in advance if you cannot keep your appointment. Please keep in mind that because I do not double or triple-book appointment times (as many health care providers do), time that has been set aside for you cannot be used for anyone else if you do not provide advanced notice that you are not coming. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice or no-shows will be charged the full price of the scheduled service. Valid emergencies are, of course, an exception. Thank you for your understanding.