The Acupuncturist's goal is to understand the patterns of disease of the individual at the time of examination. Dr. Mark Li has both an Oriental Medical Doctor degree and is also a licensed Acupuncturist. Dr Li will assess your physical condition, by identifying symptoms, uncovering your medical history and any external factors that may impact your health and well-being, through an extended interview.
Based upon all of the collected information, Dr. Li will determine the stage to which the disease or injury has developed, location of the disease or injury and the amount of the body's strength and resistance to fight the body's current abnormal function. Dr. Li will then choose the acupuncture points, the techniques and methods, such as cupping and moxibustion, to be used in order to regulate and bring the body into balance.
Once the diagnosis is made, you lie down on a padded bed while hair-thin needles are inserted into the acupuncture points. Needles come in different lengths and widths, according to the depth of the insertion. Depending upon the placement of the needles, you may lie face down or face up or on your side. The procedure is not generally painful. Most people feel very peaceful and may even fall asleep. The needles are usually in place for 20-45 minutes.
Each condition requires a different number of needles at various acupuncture points. A typical treatment usually requires between 4 and 20 needles. According to the nature of the problem being treated, 1 to 12 treatments are usually needed. For example, neck pain can be treated with 1 treatment, whereas, a bulging disc in the neck will take 6 treatments and bronchitis will be treated in 8-10 sessions. Some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, cardiac disorders, or paralysis, require extended treatment plans. Dr. Li will be able to assess the approximate amount of treatments needed after your first visit.
