As in any medical practice, the first visit is an opportunity for us to meet each other. This evaluation allows the patient to express all of their health concerns, as well as to provide some background about who they are, their job, their family, their likes and dislikes, fears and hopes. This interview usually takes at least one hour. It is followed by a medical exam that is both an evaluation of some basic medical considerations such as blood pressure, mobility of the joints and spine, and also an evaluation of the individual’s energy or qi (chi) by checking pulses and doing an abdominal exam. Acupuncture is used to help increase and balance qi. Patients generally leave feeling more calm, energized, and with an overall sense of well being.
