The Five Elements — fire, earth, metal, water, and wood — demonstrate the harmony and cyclical quality of the natural world. These elements also describe, in metaphor, characteristics and functions within the human body.

According to Chinese Medicine, each of us has a particular element or organ system that needs the most support and can cause a predisposition to illness when out of balance.

Five Element acupuncture is constitutionally based and focuses on the cause of the illness, not simply the symptoms.

beforehand:

• Please do not wear perfume or fragrances

• Wear/bring loose fitting clothing so that your arms, legs, abdomen and back are easily accessible

• Avoid caffeine the day of your appointment and aim to eat something within 2 hours of your appointment start time

afterwards:

• Post-visit, keep the balance of the day’s activities light and allow yourself to relax and rest that evening, which will support the treatment taking effect.

• It is advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours after treatment

Because this medicine bases treatment off of the individual and not a protocol, the answer is different for each of us.

While it’s not uncommon to experience moderate relief of symptoms within the first few treatments, acupuncture works best in a cumulative and compounding nature. Typically, I see patients weekly for the first 6-8 treatments, and once we see things moving in the right direction with reliable consistency, we start to schedule treatments further apart. Ultimately, my goal is to get you to a place where treatments are utilized as a form of maintenance and prevention, on a seasonal (5x/year) and as-needed basis.

Acupuncture prompts your bodies’ own natural healing & homeostatic processes via specific points on the body that are related to your unique CM diagnosis. Many of the acupuncture points have the word “gate” in their name, and this is a helpful visual metaphor for how they function. When these points/gates, are activated/opened by the needle, they send a small electrical signal via connective tissue and fascia deep into the body, eliciting your bodies innate regulatory responses.

No, acupuncture should not hurt.

And while pain should be absent from your experience, physical sensations should not. These sensations are a positive sign that your body is responding to the treatment in real time. Patients often describe these sensations as a dull ache, a spark, a release, or a surge of energy in a portion of the body. Acupuncture is known to have a calming, relaxing effect on the nervous system at large.

The style of acupuncture I practice takes a minimal approach; we use a small number of points to give the body a specific, fine-tuned and direct message. I stay with you for the entirety of your treatment, and I’ll always be able to adjust according to your comfort.

The practice is located at 2066 NW Irving St

There is paid street parking available, please give yourself a few extra minutes to secure a spot before your appointment start time.

The practice is located within Three Treasures Natural Medicine (TTNM).

You’ll receive a door code the same day as your appointment. Once inside the building, walk up the short flight of stairs and enter TTNM. You can make yourself comfortable in the waiting area, I’ll come greet you at the start of your appointment time.

Please note, the building is not ADA accessible.

Perennial Health Acupuncture does not currently take insurance. Upon request, a superbill can be provided.

We do accept HSA funds, and reserve a limited number of sliding scale slots for those in need. Please contact me for more info.

Cash, Check, Credit Card, and HSA card are all accepted forms of payment.

A small number of sliding scale spots are available for those in need; please reach out to discuss.