Everything you want to know before you come in.

Acupuncture needles are about the thickness of a whisker, nothing like the needle used for a shot. Once a needle is in place you may feel tingling, heaviness, warmth or nothing at all; everyone is different. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell us and we'll adjust right away.

Yes. Needles are individually wrapped and sterilized by the manufacturer, opened only when they're ready to be used, and disposed of in a medical waste container afterwards. They are never reused.

We take a complete health history and ask about many parts of your life, not just the main complaint. Then we check your pulse and look at your tongue, the traditional Chinese medicine exam. We explain what we find, answer every question and recommend a treatment plan.

The initial exam and consultation takes about 45 minutes. The first treatment visit is about 1½ hours, and later visits usually last about an hour.

It depends on how long you've had the problem and how severe it is. Treatments usually range from one to four times a week, then space out as you feel better. We set your course after the first visit and reassess it every session.

Many plans do, including auto-injury claims. We work with plans such as Premera, Regence, LifeWise, Uniform Medical Plan, First Choice Health and HMA. Send us your details and we'll check your benefits before you come in.

It depends on what we're treating. Most often we use points from the elbows down to the hands and from the knees down to the feet. The abdomen, back and ears are also common.

Eat a light meal beforehand so you don't feel lightheaded, and wear shorts or loose clothing so your arms, legs and abdomen are easy to reach. Skip strenuous exercise, alcohol and heavy meals right before and after your treatment.

Yes. Some points are avoided during pregnancy, so please tell us if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

We prescribe formulas matched to you and choose our sources carefully. Our formulas are made in FDA-registered facilities or lab-tested in the U.S. for heavy metals, microbes and pesticides. Always tell us about medications and supplements you take, so we can check for interactions.

No. If you'd rather avoid needles, we can use herbal medicine, acupressure, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, ear seeds and nutrition advice instead.

Look for someone trained at an accredited school and licensed in your state. Ask whether they'll talk with you before booking about rates, insurance and cancellation policy. Also ask whether they have more than one treatment room, which makes it easier to get in when you need to.

Your completed intake forms if you can (they save time), a list of medications and supplements, and your insurance card.