In the hands of a licensed practitioner Acupuncture is a very safe, pain-free, and effective treatment for many acute and chronic conditions that has been used for thousands of years.

Acupuncture treatments are not painful.  Acupuncture is performed with hair thin needles.  While the Acupuncture experience varies, most people experience a mild, dull ache or a slight warm, tingling sensation which indicates that the Acupuncture point is being activated.  Most treatments use 8-20 needles.  Patients often fall asleep or are in deep relaxation during treatment.

 One great advantage of Acupuncture is that it is very safe.  Other than an occasional bruise, there are no side effects.

Chinese doctors historically believed that illness was due to imbalance of energy in the body.  In Acupuncture, disposable, stainless steel needles are used to stimulate the body’s energy pathways, to resist or overcome illness by correcting these imbalances.

Needles are placed at specific points on the body.  Depending on the specific conditions the needles are commonly placed at or below the elbows and at or below the knees.  Other common areas are the back, neck, abdomen and ears.

During the first treatment Kristina will take a complete health history and establish a complete evaluation of the condition you are seeking treatment for, as well as ask you questions about your lifestyle.  Then an Acupuncture treatment will follow.  The initial treatment may last between 1 and 1.5 hours, and all subsequent treatments are for 1 hour.

Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy and can help relieve many pregnancy and post-partum conditions.  Because there are some Acupuncture points that are contraindicated during pregnancy it is important to inform Kristina if you are pregnant.  She highly recommends Acupuncture through your first trimester to help assist embryo development, prevent miscarriage, and address any other symptoms that may arise.

The best way to prepare is to eat a snack or light meal before so that your body has sufficient energy to work with.  If possible, it is best to wear loose clothing so your arms and legs are accessible for treatment.  After treatment it is recommended to drink water to help ground and stabilize your energy.

 One benefit to Acupuncture is that it is a drug free way to optimize health.  With drugs, people may develop a tolerance, or the need for an increased dosage to achieve the same required effect however, this does not happen with Acupuncture.  In addition, Acupuncture allows the practitioner to immediately examine the response to the treatment and adjust it if necessary.