Root & Branch Oriental Medicine
A Different Kind of Medicine:
Chinese medicine does not chase symptoms in isolation. It looks at the whole person — body, mind, and the pa!erns connecting them — and aims to restore the conditions in which your body can heal itself. When the flow of energy and fluids that move through the body and its meridians are compromised, by stress, injury, diet, or emotions, illness arises. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine repairs that dynamic balance to restore health.
What to Expect At Your Appointments:
Our initial visit will include an in depth health history, as well as, pulse, tongue and possibly abdominal diagnosis by the provider.
Taking all of that information into consideration, the provider will determine a course of treatment and how to approach the case to address both the main complaint and the underlying imbalances that are contributing to the overall health of the patient.
At each treatment, your practitioner will check in on how you have been feeling, reassess your pulse and tongue, and adjust your point selection accordingly. No two treatments are exactly alike — your practitioner is always responding to where you are right now.
The first visit runs roughly 90 minutes and generally includes a treatment. Follow-up visits are between 45-60 minutes.
Does it hurt?
Ideally, acupuncture shouldn't hurt, and we encourage you to let us know if there is any discomfort beyond the following:
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A sensation of heaviness or fullness
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A dull ache or pressure
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A slight tingling or electrical sensation
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A radiating sensation
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Deep relaxation
Any sensation that is not comfortable should be immediately reported so that we can adjust things to your comfort level.
How Treatments Build on Each Other:
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine is not a single event, it is a process. We are resetting the system, not just treating the symptom. The goal is to resolve the complaints, but also the underlying weaknesses and conditions that allowed them to arise. Consistent treatment over weeks and months create real, lasting physical change. One visit to the gym doesn't make you fit!
How Long Will it Take?
While this is a very individual answer, there are some general rules of thumb when considering length of treatment. The duration of the symptoms, the complexity, the lifestyle and dietary factors that might be contributing, emotional and physical stress, traumatic events (whether recent or historical)-all of these will be taken into account. Generally, there will be some amount of symptom relief within the first couple of treatments. Meaningful changes may take a few more visits. Over time, the improvements become more lasting and consistent, with "good days" outlasting difficult ones. Deeper correction of underlying patterns can take a bit longer. Our general recommendation is that people commit to a series of 10-12 weekly visits to achieve lasting change. In that time we are also working with lifestyle and dietary changes that can support the quality of life and reduce the potential of the symptoms recurring.
Acute Conditions: Often 1–4 sessions
Recent injuries, acute pain, sudden illness, or short-term stress responses often respond quickly. The body has not yet entrenched a pattern, and acupuncture can redirect things efficiently.
Sub-Acute Conditions: Typically 4- Sessions
Conditions present for weeks to a few months — recurring headaches, early- stage hormonal irregularity, mild anxiety, or sleep disruption — generally need a solid initial course to see consistent improvement.
Chronic Conditions: Usually 8-16 Sessions
Long-standing conditions — chronic pain, fertility challenges, autoimmune pa!erns, deep fatigue, or years of hormonal imbalance — took time to develop and take time to shift. Expect a longer course with meaningful progress visible within the first 4–6 treatments.
Deep Consitutional Work: Ongoing, evolving relationship
Some patients come to Chinese medicine to fundamentally strengthen their constitution, optimize health, or support longevity. This is considered a long- term, evolving practice — not a problem to be solved once. Examples of this are autoimmune diseases, chronic respiratory illnesses, long Covid, etc.
How To Get the Most From Your Treatments:
Results are not always linear. Some patients feel significantly be!er after their first or second treatment. Others have a brief period of increased symptoms as the body rebalances — this is a normal response and typically resolves quickly. Acupuncture works best when it is supported by how you live between sessions. Small choices compound just as your treatments do.
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Come fed, not full
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Hydrate well
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Rest after treatment
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Track your responses
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Communicate everything
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Commit to the process