Initial Appointment
Your initial appointment is 1.5 – 2 hours in length and usually does not include a treatment. It includes a full health assessment and life history as well as a physical exam. During this time, your reasons for seeking acupuncture treatment are discussed in detail. Questions regarding lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, sleep habits, etc. are asked in order to better understand the various factors that may be contributing to your overall health status.
The CFEA treatment process is dynamic and interactive. Randi partners with you to set attainable health and wellness goals which support you in restoring balance to body, mind, & spirit. Because CFEA treats each person as a unique individual, treatment planning is customized to meet your individual needs.
For optimal outcome, your personal commitment to improving your health and well-being is key.
Follow-Up Appointments
Follow-up appointments take about an hour. You will have the opportunity to discuss how you currently feel, what changes and/or improvements you may have noticed since your last appointment, any additional concerns, & follow-up on wellness goals. Randi will then plan a treatment tailored to what you need in order to continue to progress.
During the treatment, pre-sterilized disposable acupuncture needles are used to stimulate the Qi by inserting the needle into an acupuncture point. The location of acupuncture points varies. Prior to needling, Randi may place dried Chinese Mugwort cones (moxa) on the acupuncture point to warm, strengthen, and enhance the movement of energy in the body. When the needle is inserted into the acupuncture point, you will feel a sensation of energy being moved as the needle comes into contact with your Qi. The sensation is brief and intensity can vary from point to point and from person to person.
All needles are stainless steel, pre-sterilized, and disposed of after each use. The needles are solid and as thin as one strand of hair. Needles used in Western Medical procedures are more painful when inserted because they are hollow, much longer, and thicker. Acupuncture needles are less painful. If you have any concerns, questions, or fear needles, please call for more information as other options may be available.
Frequency of Treatment & Results
Frequency of treatment varies from person to person depending on many factors: nature of imbalance; history, severity, & duration of the issues at hand; current state of your health at the beginning of treatment; and, lifestyle choices.
In the beginning, it is important to come in for weekly treatments. Weekly treatments build and balance your energy and assist your body to begin to regain its ability to heal itself. Each treatment builds upon previous treatments. Some people begin to feel better after the first treatment, others may not notice changes for a few treatments. As you start to feel better, as symptoms subside, and your energy is maintained between treatments, sessions are spaced further apart to meet your particular needs. Once you feel as though you are balanced and health is restored, then seasonal maintenance treatments can begin. You may choose to come in more frequently during times of stress, or major lifestyle changes, new medical diagnoses, weaning off medications, or losses.