How do I prepare for my first acupuncture treatment?

Use these guidelines to get the most out of your session:

Once your first appointment is booked, you will be sent a medical history intake form.  Please fill this out with as much detail as you can - even if something doesn’t necessarily seem related, it may help your acupuncture identify a larger pattern playing out in your holistic picture.

You need energy to move energy in the body. Prepare yourself so that you can fully benefit from acupuncture. Skipping meals or eating too much before your treatments could all reduce your ability to benefit from acupuncture's therapeutic effects. Try having a light snack about an hour before your treatment.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drugs before and after an acupuncture session. These substances are hard on the liver and will dehydrate and interfere with your natural energy by creating excess heat and unhealthy fluids that stagnate in the body.

Don’t overbook yourself: You can continue your day as normal, but give yourself a buffer to ease back into your day after your session. In other words, try not to schedule something super stressful and/or fast-paced immediately afterwards. You may feel tired afterwards, which could be a sign of underlying deficiencies.

Stay hydrated. Hydration is so important for health, from regulating your temperature and digestion, to providing a foundation for your immune system, and so much more. Acupuncture encourages circulation of the blood and the qi in order to clear out blockages; however, if you are dehydrated, your circulation will be slower and you may not be as responsive to the stimulation that acupuncture provides.

Don't brush or scrape your tongue. Did you know that the tongue is the only muscle you can physically see in the body? It has a lot of information about the health of your organs, the fluids and blood in your body, and overall state of health. Therefore, it's important to avoid brushing or scraping your tongue on the day of the appointment so we can see the tongue in its natural condition.

Exercise before, not after an acupuncture treatment: If regularly work out, it is advisable to do so before your treatment. This is especially true if you often feel fatigued after a session or are coming for physical injury.

Be a partner in your health: Frequently, nutritional and lifestyle changes are a part of your healing and recovery. An integral aspect of the healing process is being receptive to this counsel, willingness to change, and incorporating it into your daily life.

How many treatments will I need?

You will likely feel improvement from your first session, but in order to anchor in change, you will need multiple sessions.

In general, the speed of results will depend on a few things: your body's strength and healing reserves (this is why sometimes we give herbal/ nutritional support), one's lifestyle, diet, and how severe and/ or chronic the condition is.

If you are coming in for something acute (something that happened a few days ago to a week ago), it may take 2-6 sessions, coming twice a week to anchor the change desired.

Chronic or multi-systemic issues often take 8-12 sessions coming at least twice a week to start to anchor a change. Herbal and nutritional medicine is key in shifting things faster and more effectively here. As a disharmonic pattern takes root over time, it takes more to unwind this pattern and to anchor in a new, healthier pattern.

Once we have established a healthy baseline, the goal is for you to come in once or twice a month for maintenance sessions to keep you in a good way.

Are there any side effects?

There is a very rare chance that bruising may occur as the capillary system changes and is different in everyone.

As required by law, we use clean needle technique and pre-sterilized, disposable, single-use needles to ensure your complete safety. Some of the other effects of acupuncture are a deep sense of relaxation, feelings of euphoria, increased energy, better focus and reduction in pain. These effects are not universal and every individual experiences the effects of acupuncture differently.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a primary role to set standards for governments and large organizations to follow in order to improve the health of all our world's citizens. The WHO recommends acupuncture for over 100 conditions, including 43 different diseases that acupuncture can help with. The WHO also lists acupuncture as one of the safest medicines to receive.

What does Acupuncture feel Like?

Most of the time, you feel nothing. If you feel the insertion of the needle, it might feel like a mild bug bite for an instant. Other sensations you may feel are waves of energy, pulsing, heaviness, and throbbing in the point. These sensations are called "Da Qi" - or "big energy," and this indicates activation of the point. This activation is a good thing!

Otherwise, acupuncture treatments are painless. Acupuncture is performed with hair-thin, sterile, and one-time use needles. If anything is ever uncomfortable, it can be always be adjusted. Sometimes the activated points can be quite strong for the first minutes and then usually the sensation shifts quickly after that. Mostly, we see people fall asleep or are in deep relaxation during their sessions.

Is it safe when I'm pregnant?

Yes! In fact, acupuncture can be extremely helpful during this time.

If you are having symptoms during pregnancy such as morning sickness, heartburn, swelling, low back and hip pain, sciatica and headaches, acupuncture can help greatly reduce these symptoms. It is also very effective in preparing for labor and delivery as well as progressing labor.

Why Community Acupuncture?

Community-style acupuncture is where multiple people are treated in the same calming space. This cuts cost for you and you get to enjoy your session with friends and loved ones!

Source Empowered Wellness has created a sanctuary to heal, and to drop into a deep seat of calm. Our luxury recliner chairs are arranged in a large, quiet, and soothing space. Treating patients in a community setting has many benefits:

• Friends and family members can get treated together.
• Many patients find it comforting and reinforcing to be a part of a community.
• The power of intention and healing is very potent when experienced together.

There are also a couple of tables in the back room if needed. And for those who prefer their own room and privacy, there are private room sessions available every day in our cozy solo treatment room.

What is your cancellation policy?

Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the Doctor's day that could have been filled by another patient and we pay our staff whether you show or not. As such, we require 24 hour notice (and appreciate as much notice as possible) for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Patients who provide less than 24 hours notice will be charged a cancellation fee of $30.

Do you accept insurance?

We accept most types of insurance but need to verify each person’s insurance to get specifics on what is covered and copay pricing.  Our cash price is different from insurance billing prices.  Please contact us at least 48 -72 business hours before you’d like to book your appointment at 619-761-9544 or email us at info@sourceempoweredwellness.com that you would like to use your insurance so we can start the verification process.

What can Acupuncture Help you with?

This is no means an exhaustive list but includes some of the major reasons most people come to see us.  If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call us to get more clarity: 619-761-9544

Acupuncture is part of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), dating back over 3,000 years ago. In TCM, pain can be seen as too much or not enough of something (ie. energy, blood, fluids) in an area. Mindfully placed needles harmonize these elements so they move where they need to be and inspire your body’s own natural healing mechanisms. Pain is reduced physiologically: Acupuncture blocks pain receptors in the brain while releasing endorphins (natural pain blockers) and serotonin (natural mood enhancers). It increases circulation to the area being treated, lowering inflammation. Acupuncture also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, in which healing and relaxation responses are elevated. For this reason, most patients report a significant improvement in stress, anxiety, and fatigue and often will nap during a treatment. Source Empowered Wellness uses sterile, disposable needles that are as thin as a human hair so you feel no pain!

Musculoskeletal Pain (Acute & Chronic)

Stress Sleep Disturbance/Insomnia

Digestive Conditions & Food Allergies

Common Cold

Cosmetic Services

Depression and Anxiety

Preventative Medicine (Immune/Energy/Mood Support)

Menstrual & Gynecological Conditions

Fertility

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support

Genitourinary Disorders (Urinary Tract Infection)

Dermatological Conditions (Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis)

Sexual Dysfunction

Addiction (Smoking and Other) Autoimmune Disorders

How do I prepare for my first acupuncture treatment?

Use these guidelines to get the most out of your session:

Once your first appointment is booked, you will be sent a medical history intake form.  Please fill this out with as much detail as you can - even if something doesn’t necessarily seem related, it may help your acupuncture identify a larger pattern playing out in your holistic picture

How do I prepare for my first acupuncture treatment?

Use these guidelines to get the most out of your session:

Once your first appointment is booked, you will be sent a medical history intake form.  Please fill this out with as much detail as you can - even if something doesn’t necessarily seem related, it may help your acupuncture identify a larger pattern playing out in your holistic picture