New Patient Intake Form: Print and fill out this New Patient Intake form. It will speed up the intake process during your first visit.

New Patient Intake Form (PDF, Adobe Reader required)

“Congratulations! You are on your way to a significant improvement.”

Welcome, we are glad that you chose nature medicine for your health. Our motto is “We empower your body to self-heal.” It is how we approach the diseases for all of our patients.

We help your physiological system to naturally rebound using time-tested methods of acupuncture, dietary adjustment, and/or Asian herbs. Majority of patients only need acupuncture but for some patients, dietary adjustment and Asian herbs can be a good solution. We recommend these if necessary. We do our best in safely and effectively treating your ailment. We look forward to assisting your body to heal.

Getting the most out of treatment

If you would like to be well-prepared, although not necessary, then the following would be helpful.

Show up on time.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
Discuss any questions or concerns.
Follow the acupuncturist’s recommendation.
Keep all of your appointments or make them up, as each visit builds upon the previous ones.
Fill out and bring the initial patient intake, which is attached above. Or you can fill it out at the clinic.
Know your insurance benefit or out-of-pocket payment.
Bring your medical records. Although it is helpful to know what we are dealing with, it is not essential to determine how we treat.
Understand our technique and why we use acupuncture, dietary adjustment, and Asian herbs.
You will be continuing to work with your primary physician regarding blood test and scans since we do not interpret them.

Note: Acupuncture and Asian herbs are quite safe. This is one of the reasons for developing a trust with our patients. Acupuncture does not aggravate a problem. Furthermore, we have not had a negative prescription-herb interaction related to cells, organs, or glands.

Communication and Diagnostic Style

Because the nature of this medicine is natural, our communication style is different. Rather than a bio-molecular explanation or with blood test reading, we use ancient methods of self-reflection. Yes, it is subjective but Asian medicine’s impact is strong enough for you to sense an improvement within a reasonable period of time. So our discussion of your case will be mostly on your subjective observation.

In addition, we employ diagnostic tools that are unique to acupuncture, such as measuring your torso and palpating your pelvic bone to gauge the shape related to your body type.

During your first exam, we spend time getting to know you and your health concerns. You may be asked a wide range of questions about your symptoms, eating, exercise, sleep habits, emotional states and anything that may offer insight into how your body works for a proper treatment.

Or if you have a localized problem such as low back pain, then the information gathering will be short.

Your treatment plan

Once we have gathered enough information, which may take one to several visits, you will be explained of our treatment plan so that you know what to expect going forward.

When applicable, you will be explained of:

Your underlying imbalances.
Your timeline of care.
What types of treatment you will receive.

Up to 6 treatments may be required before you see a pattern of improvement and how it is projected forward to gauge your maximum improvement.

How treatment works

Your first visit typically lasts 60 minutes. An acupuncture session is 25 to 30 minutes. Our initial discussion and process of discovery will be 5 to 20 minutes. Drs. David Lee, Che-ol Kim, or Sima Ebrahimi will gather information and begin to let you know how effective acupuncture and Asian medicine is for your specific condition and what the realistic outcome is.

To treat your imbalances, fine, sterile needles will be inserted at specific acupuncture points on the limbs along the meridian pathways. We have a proprietary acupuncture protocol proven to be reliable and effective. Through stimulation of trigger points, your body re-balances itself, resulting in an efficient physiology for self-healing. The result is a reduction of pain, inflammation, and dysfunction.

We may recommend other therapies in your treatment plan, such as Asian herbs. Because the Asian herbs are subtle in balancing your physiology, it is important to follow the dosage directions in order to get the timely benefit.

Your role in the healing process

Your actions are a key component of your treatment plan. We recommend minimum number of visits for a timely improvement. For example, we may request you to get acupuncture twice a week for 3 weeks. Or you may also be given Asian herbs taken twice a day. We understand that a habitual healthy lifestyle is built from successes. Our intent is for you to experience a healthier you so you can confidently take healthy steps for your well-being.

Even after your symptoms are resolved, Asian medicine can assist you in maintaining your health, and possibly prevent future problems. Acupuncture helps your body to self-heal so the maintenance treatments help your system to consistently be at a more efficient state. So the more you consistently incorporate acupuncture into your life, likely once every 2 to 4 weeks, the more you can nurture your body and mind.

Acupuncture is and is not an instant fix.

Acupuncture is amazing in that it can accelerate your improvement process. Often, it quickly resolves your long-standing pain. At other times, a true healing may take time with some dedication. Regardless of your current health status and symptoms, if you are highly reactive to acupuncture, you could feel better right away. Or you may need treatments for 3 weeks to achieve a significant improvement. By the rate of improvement, you can gauge how much acupuncture can help you.

Asian Medicine is safe.

Acupuncture and Asian medicine offer a safe and effective holistic health care. This natural approach can simultaneously resolve symptoms and enhance your overall health. Furthermore, contrary to a concerned view, both acupuncture and Asian herbs do not conflict with medications. Our experience of 20 years so far had no problem with organs and glands even with taking herbs for more than one year.