General Considerations

Most patients find acupuncture is pleasantly relaxing. It is not uncommon for experienced patients to fall asleep during treatment.  After the treatment, this state of relaxation will not impede normal activities (eg.: driving).

There is no need to plan your day around your appointment, but you should avoid being very hungry or very full when arriving.  Also, to get the most from your treatment, it is preferable to avoid extremely strenuous activity immediately before or after treatment.

 Very few drugs or procedures interfere with acupuncture, and vice-versa. Acupuncture can be useful in reducing the dose and/or number of medications a patient is taking, but reducing medicines can be a complex issue requiring careful monitoring and should include input from the prescribing M.D.s.

Acupuncture treatments take about 30 - 60 minutes. (For the intake on the first appointment, add 20 - 30 minutes). Effects sometimes take a few hours or days to fully develop.

Acupuncture usually involves a course of treatments (3 - 15 treatments, depending on condition). If acupuncture is warranted, I usually suggest a trial of 4-6 treatments, with a re-evaluation before continuing. It can take a few treatments for effects to be noticeable. If a patient is not responding by 5 or 6 treatments, the likelihood that acupuncture will be effective starts declining.

It is more clinically effective to be treated 1-2 times per week, at least initially. If too much time elapses between treatments (more than 10-14 days), sustained progress can be difficult.

Acupuncture is often useful in guiding the body back to a more healthful state. Changes in life style, work habits, etc. may also help or be necessary to restore and maintain health. 
 
Very few ailments warrant "open-ended" treatment. In most cases once a favorable result or plateau is reached in treatment, there will be little regression for months to years. In cases where there are structural issues (e.g.: bony deformities, etc.) acupuncture often affords relief, though if the cause of the problem is structural and the problem remains uncorrected or unhealed, it usually means the symptoms will return eventually, at which point more treatment may be warranted.

Referral from an MD is not needed to be seen, but may be necessary for insurance coverage. In addition, Western (biomedical) diagnostic techniques (imaging, lab work, etc.) may be helpful in guiding treatment or assessing progress. Please bring any diagnostic imaging reports (not films or discs), lab work, and a list of prescription medications and OTC supplements (vitamins, herbs, etc.) that you may be taking to your first appointment.

I practice in Amherst  Mon., Wed., Fri. , and in Springfield @ the Baystate Hospital Pain Management Center Tue. & Thurs.

Please note that if handicap-accessibility or translation services are necessary, or you wish to pay via charge card, you must book at Baystate.