The Session - NYC Acupuncture

How a session works:

1.     Making an Appointment:

The first step to create an acupuncture session with Nicholas is through a phone call or email inquiry. You may ask questions to see if treatment and practitioner are a match for you. 

2.     The Office Visit:

Once you arrive at the office, the session begins with a conversation about your chief complaints and general physical and/or mental-emotional health.

The session continues as Nicholas measures the 12 primary pulses on your wrists and examines your tongue. These Chinese Medical diagnostic techniques allow Nicholas to assess the health of the major organs of the body and their associated channels of qi-energy.

Once a diagnosis has been reached, you will be invited to relax on the massage table, as acupuncture needles are superficially inserted into specific points along the various meridians of qi-energy. (read more about Treatment Options here)

Other Techniques:

If appropriate, moxabustion therapy may be added to the treatment. Moxabustion is a technique in which the fortifying herb "mugwort" is burnt atop acupuncture needles or used to gently warm the skin. The herb does not touch the skin, is completely safe, and very comforting.

Other techniques, such as cupping therapy and gua sha can be used to release the musculature of the body and support detox: when appropriate to the diagnosis. 

Reiki:

Reiki therapy is often added to the acupuncture treatment. Or, in cases where acupuncture is not desired by the patient, Reiki can stand alone as the sole treatment.

Reiki is a gentle technique where energy is channeled through practitioner to patient. At times, the practitioner’s hands rest upon the chakras of the patient's body, or hover slightly above to balance and support the organs and channels. 

3.     Concluding the Session:

Throughout the session, the pulses are measured to assess the progress of the treatment. When the pulses have changed, the treatment is finished. Sessions usually last one hour.

The patient is asked to reflect on treatment, and share his/her reactions. From there, a treatment plan is created, and recommendations for duration and frequency of treatment are given. 

4.     Frequency of Treatment:

Sometimes a patient's chief complaint can disappear after one or two sessions, which is usually the case with acute, short-lived issues. Other times, resolution becomes a process, like therapy, that takes time and commitment to unravel and release. Regular weekly or bi-weekly sessions are often advised for the initial treatment of chronic issues. Some issues may take weeks or months to fully resolve.

During treatment for a specific condition, patients will often find their general physical and mental wellbeing improves as well.