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Foundations in Wellness

 

New acupuncture patients at Living Stream Wellness are lead through our Foundations in Wellness program. Over your first five appointments you will:

 

  • Learn the principles of balance in Chinese Medicine and how to apply them to your condition.

 

  • Understand how balance plays a role in a healthy lifestyle.

 

  • Receive personalized recommendations for your condition and your overall well-being.

 

Clinic  Etiquette:

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  • We do recommend to leave your valuables at home. Living Stream Wellness cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage of any personal items.

  • Our environment is one of tranquility and relaxation. In consideration of other guests, we ask that you speak in a quiet voice and switch off mobile phones. If using headphones, please make sure the volume level is not audible to other guests.

      *** Ear plugs are available if you are sensitive to sound.

What to know:

      To help ensure a successful appointment, please:

  •          View our office policy prior to your initial appointment.

  • Reschedule your appointment if you have been exposed to a communicable illness within the last three weeks and/or you have a fever or flu-like symptoms.

  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking and sugar -before and after treatment. If you are a coffee addict, feel free to enjoy your morning cup-o-joe, but hold back on any more as your appointment draws near. The less influencing factors you have in your system when the needles go in, the better.

  • Arrive 15-30 minutes prior to your appointment time. This will give yourself enough time to get to a relaxed state and to fill out your health history and other regulative forms. Arriving on time also enable us to run on time and well-evaluate your health conditions and needs. 

  • Remove your watch or anything that might interfere with taking your wrist pulse. Remove any necklace and/or earring for the purpose of locating acu-points on the neck, shoulders and/or ears.

  • Wear comfortable, loose clothing and so we can access your arms and legs below your elbows and knees. You may also bring a pair of shorts of loose undershirt to change into. This will also help you continue to feel relaxed after treatment. You may also bring a pair of shorts of loose undershirt to change into.

  • Arrive neither starved nor stuffed. We recommend a snack or meal one to two hours before your treatment. Same applies to post-treatment protocol. As much as possible, eat light food like vegetables and rice and avoid overly processed and heavy foods.

  • Use restroom prior to your treatment is highly suggested. Reducing fluids and use restroom prior to your massage can help reduce urinary frequency and smooth your treatment session.   

  • Stay warm. Avoid drinking ice and cold drinks or apply ice right after acupuncture. Acupuncture gets the circulation flowing, your qi and blood moving. Cold contracts things and slows them down. If you need to ice an area, wait a few hours after acupuncture before applying it. This is how long it takes the qi or energy to settle into it’s new, healthier way of being.

What to bring:

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  • A complete list and dosage of your recent & current medications and/or supplements (herbal or nutritional) that you are taking.

  • Medical records, including past x-rays, MRI, CT, lab/blood work and/or other diagnostic studies are highly suggested if applicable.

What to expect:

 

Arrival:  When you arrive you will be asked to fill out a detailed Health History, as well as review and sign our Informed Consent, Privacy Notice, Payment, Patient Responsibility and Office Policies.

 

Assessment: Once forms are complete, you will meet with your practitioner in a private treatment room for a consultation on your chief complaints and a review of your Health History and other medical records provided. Your practitioner will ask you variety of questions and may perform some non-invasive medical tests, such as taking your pulse, observing your tongue, and perhaps palpating specific channels and points. Your practitioner will talk about a customized course of treatment which includes, but not limit to, what to expect, how to follow up the treatment, the goal of treatment, the frequency of treatment, the lifestyle advice and  the diet and nutrition advice. You will also have a chance to ask any questions you might have. New Patient appointments can take one-and-a-half to 2 hours total (though we try to keep them shorter). Return visits generally last an hour or less. 

 

Treatment:  All needles used at Living Stream Wellness are sterile, non-toxic, and single-use ONLY. Patients commonly report the application of needles as painless, but some can be sensitive, dull achy, sharp, swollen, itchy or feel like gentle movement similar to electricity.   Our practitioners strive to make treatments as comfortable as possible, but certain points are more sensitive than others. If you are uncomfortable, let your practitioner know, and they will adjust accordingly. After the needles have been applied most patients enter  a state of deep relaxation, often falling asleep. Expect to relax in your tranquil surroundings -this is your time and you should enjoy the experience to the fullest. Be it the room temperature and the volume of the piped-in music, please do not hesitate to ask our therapists to adjust them to your comfort levels. If at any time you are not comfortable with the treatment, you always reserve the right to suggest that the therapist make a change for you to be more comfortable. Treatments typically last anywhere from 45 minutes  to 1 hour. At some point you will feel the relaxation coming to an end, your eyes will naturally open, and you will feel ready.

 

Post treatment:  Your therapist will let you know when the treatment is finished. Take a moment getting up. 

 *** Please be cautious when getting off the treatment table. Do not get up too quickly, taking your time allows your blood   pressure  to restore itself. If you need assistance to get up, please notify your practitioner.

 

After treatment, everyone responds differently to the acupuncture. Some people feel rejuvenated and energized, others blissful and spaced out, while some feel fatigued. Rarely, some might experience the possible increase in symptoms which usually happens later on the same day but then goes away. It is not necessarily the same for everyone every time.

 

We recommend that you take a few minutes after your appointment to drink WARM water or herbal tea that we have prepared  for you in the lounge area. If at all possible, spend the next 12 hours relaxing. Even if you are feeling great after your treatment  and want to exercise, don’t go overboard. Your body needs some time to integrate the shifts that happened in the treatment When you are ready there you can check out, schedule future appointments and follow up with your practitioner asneeded.                  

 

 

 

 

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