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Acupuncture

Anatomy of an Acupuncture Session

Your first visit at our clinic includes time for a thorough medical history, discussion of a treatment plan and introduction to acupuncture by means of your first acupuncture treatment. It is an opportunity to get to know your practitioner but also for a way for us to get to know you as well. We like to take our time in this first visit to make sure that you feel comfortable and understand the process of Chinese medicine and all that it can offer. Because of this, your first visit can be somewhere between one hour and fifteen minutes and one hour and a half in length.

First Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Acupuncture is the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin to stimulate the body to heal itself and manage pain. Acupuncture works in three fundamental ways:

    1. Acupuncture aids in recovering proper blood flow to muscles, ligaments and tendons,

    2. Acupuncture provides a mechanical release of tension in those same tissues: muscles, tendons and ligaments, 

    3. Acupuncture uses the limbic system to create deep relaxation and modify/improve pain/stress management deep in the brain.

  • Yes, no, sometimes...there is a sensation with treatment, in Chinese medicine call it "De Qi" [duh chee].  It is a sign that the nervous system has been stimulated and the body engaged in the treatment. The needles are literally hair thin and go into body easily with little discomfort. Common sensations are dull ache, tingling, warmth or cool, or a feeling of movement.

  • I don’t like needles either.  We all associate needles with hypodermic needles used in injections.  Acupuncture needles are a very different kind of instrument.  Hair thin and designed for painless insertion and deep relaxation, the experience of needling is nothing like the one you have in the doctor's office. Our acupuncture specialists strive to make your experience a pain-free, supportive and relaxing experience.

    Our clients often report that it is the most relaxing thing they do all week.

  • Luckily, you don’t need to believe in acupuncture for it to work. In fact, I know an acupuncturist who loves to treat skeptics. That being said, if you believe you are going to have a bad day, you probably are.

  • There are different styles of acupuncture, different lengths/types of study and each practitioner is different.

    Did they/you do a treatment series? Health concerns that are long-standing often require more than one treatment. 

  • Most treatment use 12 to 16 needles. Pictures in the media of lots of needles are over-dramatic representations.

  • Acupuncture is effective in resolving many imbalances and health patterns in the body but treatment is just one half of the equation. For lasting results, it is often what you do on the other days of the week that really make the change.  In our treatment plans we integrate the other modalities within Chinese medicine to support and sustain the relief you feel with acupuncture. Using lifestyle medicine including dietary recommendations, sleep hygiene, stress management, therapeutic exercise, hydration and herbs; we get to the root of the issue and resolve the issue where it starts.

  • Every case is different. In general, the longer you have had a condition, the longer it takes to resolve. That being said, most people experience improvement within just a couple treatments.

  • Acupuncture works cumulatively, meaning each treatment builds upon the next. In the beginning, treatments are compressed and then spread out as change is stabilized.

    Once the complaint is resolved, acupuncture can be added to your long-term self-care regimen.  Many of our clients return for "tune ups" before travel, cold/allergy seasons, as a monthly tune-up or when they are undergoing stressful life events to help them stay healthy and manage stress better.

  • Acupuncture is useful in resolving a wide range of concerns. Working in the holistic model of Chinese medicine, acupuncture gets to the root cause of many body complaints while teaching the client how to recognize ways to improve his/her health through good daily habits.

    The World Health Organization recognizes that acupuncture is useful in the care of the following conditions:

Suzan and Garth and their team have worked miracles for me and my family several times over the last 15 years. In particular, most recently, she helped my mom with various ailments related to my mom’s Parkinson’s disease. The level of sincere, patient and true care here is top drawer. Within days, my mom started receiving IV therapy from a local IV provider here in Arizona, had a concise and poignant list of supplements to take, practical and affordable recommendations for exercises and equipment to explore and use. If you need competent and caring people to help you or a loved one, Circle of Health Longmont is the place. Thank you so much!
Rob Rebitzke
Garth is an amazing listener and delivers the most common sense advice, things one needs to hear. The suggestions given can move you forward to better health. Garth Thank you for all you have done for my health and well being.
Terri H
Garth is an exceptional acupuncturist whose expertise and compassion shine through in every session. His profound knowledge and gentle approach create an incredibly calming and therapeutic experience. I’ve seen remarkable improvements in my health since I started treatments with him. His dedication to holistic healing is truly commendable, and I highly recommend Garth to anyone seeking effective and personalized care through acupuncture.
Trisha Necessary
I cannot recommend Garth and Circle of Health enough. I was referred to him by a friend who had seen tremendous improvements in his overall health. Way past post menopause, I was dealing with hair loss which was devastating for me. Over the course of 3 months of treatment, my hair stopped falling out at the rate it had been and felt thicker. In addition to being an expert acupuncture clinician, Garth is sincere, interested, insightful and a consummate pro. At the start of each session, he takes the time to sit with you to understand exactly is going on with your life and treatment objectives. I am so grateful to Garth for the help he had proffered and would say, run don’t walk to him if you are experiencing a myriad heath concerns!!
Ali Roth
ACU
NCCAOM
ACTCM
WHA
Longmont Chamber

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