Acupuncture
Acupuncture, with a long first visit
Acupuncture uses very thin, single-use needles placed at points on the body. Hasina and Carlos, our two licensed acupuncturists, spend the first visit listening before they place a needle.
Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine. At Foyer, a visit combines a conversation, a physical exam and a treatment, and your acupuncturist explains each step as it happens. Some visits add cupping or gentle heat. You can ask to pause or stop at any point.
Who usually comes
People who want a quiet, unhurried visit
People who carry tension in the neck, back or shoulders
People who want something to do alongside their other care
People who have tried massage or chiropractic care and want another approach
What a visit is like
From the door to the plan
- 01
Step 1: The conversation
About 20 minutes. Your acupuncturist asks about your day, your sleep, your food and what you hope to get from a visit.
- 02
Step 2: The exam
A look at your tongue, a feel of your pulse and a check of the area that bothers you, with a pattern assessment in the traditional sense.
- 03
Step 3: The needles
A few to a dozen thin, single-use needles, placed where you agree. You may feel a brief pinch or a dull ache.
- 04
Step 4: The rest
You rest 20 to 30 minutes with the needles in. Your acupuncturist checks in and removes them at the end.
- 05
Step 5: The plan
You agree on what to try next and when. First visits take about 75 minutes and follow-ups about 45.
Good to know
Before and after your visit
What you may feel afterward
Most people feel relaxed or a little sleepy afterward. Some feel mild soreness near a needle, and a small mark or light bruise is possible. Drink water, eat something light and take it easy for the rest of the day.
Tell us first
Say any of these when you book, and again at the visit.
Pregnancy, or the chance you might be pregnant
A blood thinner, or any bleeding disorder
A pacemaker or implanted device, because some visits use a small electrical current on the needles
Lymph nodes removed on one side
Any worry about needles, so we can go slowly
How many visits
Your acupuncturist suggests a plan with you at the first visit, for example a few visits close together, then spacing them out. It is a plan we make together, never a promise, and you can stop whenever you like.
What it doesn't do, and when to see a doctor
Acupuncture doesn't replace your doctor, a diagnosis or your medicines. Don't stop or change a medicine because of a visit. For chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or a sudden severe headache, call 911. For anything new or worsening, see your doctor first.
Book a first visit
Tell us what you're hoping for. Our front desk replies to find a time.