What to expect in a Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine Initial Intake Appointment
Getting Prepared
Whether you choose TCM or Ayurveda or a combination, you will be asked to complete an initial intake questionnaire and bring it to your initial intake appointment. A guiding principle used in TCM and Ayurvedic diagnosis is “the exterior reflects the interior.” A useful diagnosis requires gathering enough information to understand the conditions and the context of the person. The initial intake is very thorough and includes an extensive questionnaire, interview and physical examination. Our intake questionnaire has been developed over many years of clinical practice and its careful and honest completion is of prime importance. The information you share in your questionnaire helps to reveal the underlying systemic imbalances (root causes) that present as your specific complaints. Many patients have reported that filling out the questionnaire has helped to bring greater personal awareness to their health.
Be Prepared to Talk...
It is important to be prepared to talk about yourself. During your initial intake appointment, much of the time will be spent on an extensive personal and medical history, including questions about daily diet, work routine, exercise and mental health. During your initial intake appointment, your practitioner will review your questionnaire and other paperwork, asking clarifying questions as needed.
Be Prepared to Be Seen...
All clinical observations represent pieces that fit together into a coherent diagnostic picture of the patient. Both TCM and Ayurveda utilize highly sophisticated diagnostic techniques that make use of the trained practitioner’s direct sensory perceptions and intuition.
These techniques include:
The Looking Diagnosis
Looking at the patient’s physical characteristics such as general body structure and build, muscle tone, gait, skin, tongue, teeth, eyes, hair, facial expressions, and mannerisms are all ways your practitioner begins to understand you and the state of your health.
The Listening Diagnosis
This aspect of diagnosis involves active listening to your story and history, as well as noting the qualities and nuances of voice and expression.
The Smelling and Tasting Diagnosis
You may be asked about your body odors and tastes as these are important clues about your constitution and the state of your health. Strong tastes and odors can be signs of heat, toxicity or digestive imbalance.
The Touching Diagnosis
Feeling the pulse is a skill that is perfected over many years of clinical practice. The pulse is taken on one of the forearms (a particular Ayurvedic style) and/or on both wrists simultaneously (a common Ayurvedic and TCM method). Wherever the pulse is read, three positions are monitored at as many as seven different depths. Each position and depth is related to specific organ or tissue systems and therefore can provide clinically significant information to the practitioner.
Be Prepared to Make Lifestyle Changes...
Dietary and lifestyle practices are vital to healthy living, and are important components of treatment, recovery, and disease management for “Total Wellness.” Ongoing counseling sessions are carefully designed to scaffold your education as you slowly incorporate the principles and practices of TCM and/or Ayurveda. This approach involves making personal changes in diet and lifestyle which are sometimes quite simple, often challenging, but never impossible. A gentle and gradual approach, individually customized, optimizes outcome for each unique person.
Be Prepared to Follow Up...
After your practitioner has had a chance to thoroughly review your paperwork and perform a non-invasive physical examination, a personalized treatment plan will be offered and explained. This plan will include specific recommendations for changes in your diet and lifestyle, herbal recommendations and/or recommendations for Ayurvedic treatments. The plan will also include recommendations for frequency of ongoing counseling in order to offer you continued support and guidance as you learn to make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes recommended for you.
Ayurvedic follow-up recommendations will include some variation of:
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Ongoing Counseling - These hour-long sessions ensure the necessary time for continued support and guidance as you learn to implement the dietary and lifestyle recommendations made for you. These sessions will also be used to monitor your herbs and to further educate you about Ayurvedic principles and techniques. Through these sessions, you will learn to practically implement this knowledge via treatments you can either do yourself at home or with one of our practitioners in our clinic.
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Ayurvedic Herbal Formulas - The administration of herbs in Ayurveda is considered a precise science, requiring deep knowledge of plants and their effect on human physiology, biochemistry, and psychology. The action and effectiveness of each herb is determined by its rasa (taste), virya (active potency), and vipaka (post-digestive effect). Individually prescribed herbal recommendations will include one or more of the five primary herbal forms which include juices, teas, wines, pastes, powders.
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Shirodhara Treatments - This special and very relaxing therapy involves administering a continuous stream of warm oil infused with various herbs over the forehead and scalp. The type of medicated oil used, the number and length of treatments, and the duration of the overall therapy will be determined by the Ayurvedic practitioner, and performed by a trained Ayurvedic massage therapist.
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Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Massage) - This treatment is either self-applied or performed by trained Ayurvedic therapists who work under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner. Warm, herb-infused oils are individually prescribed and used to address specific manifestations of imbalance according to Ayurvedic principles. Oils are selected and prepared according to the practitioner's specific diagnosis. Regularly anointing the body with oil is viewed in Ayurveda as foundational for optimal health.
TCM follow-up recommendations will include some variation of:
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Ongoing Counseling - These hour-long sessions ensure the necessary time for continued support and guidance as you learn to implement the dietary and lifestyle recommendations made for you. These sessions will also be used to monitor your herbs and to further educate you about TCM treatments you can either do yourself at home or with one of our practitioners in our clinic.
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Traditional Chinese Herbal Formulas - In TCM, the herbal tradition is based on the complex theory of the Five Elements. The TCM pharmacopeia, like Ayurveda contains plants, animals and minerals. The majority of herbal formulas contain four or more substances and are always individually prescribed.
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Acupuncture - This important modality is used within Traditional Chinese Medicine to promote healing, improve functioning and prevent health problems. Very thin needles are inserted at precise acupuncture points on the surface of the body. These acupuncture points are located along channels of energy called meridians which run in patterns throughout the body. Meridians can be likened to rivers of energy that irrigate and nourish the tissues of the body. From a TCM view, illnesses manifest as obstructions of energy along these rivers causing a back up in the flow. This back up creates a damn at certain points and restricts flow at other points, both of which manifest as uncomfortable physical, mental and/or emotional symptoms. When the acupuncture needles are inserted at specific points, the obstructions in the meridians are unblocked, the damns are released and flow is reestablished. Acupuncture treatments are thus highly effective for stimulating the body’s natural ability regain and maintain balance. Problematic symptoms automatically subside as flow and balance is restored.
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Moxabustion - This form of heat therapy is often used in conjunction with acupuncture or on its own. Different forms of dried herbs are ignited and held close to the skin to warm acupuncture points and meridians in order to stimulate the circulation of Qi and blood, promoting healing. The herb most often used for moxabustion is mugwort. Sometimes other herbs are combined with mugwort to address specific conditions.
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Cupping - Specially designed glass or plastic cups are placed on the surface of the skin and then heat or suction is used to create a vacuum within the cup, drawing the skin up into the cup. This mobilizes blood and stimulates energy flow. From a TCM point of view, cupping helps to remove excess and accumulated Yang, heat, and toxins from the superficial layers of muscle and skin. This can help to relieve pain and inflammation. Cupping therapy is traditionally used to treat muscle pain by dispersing stagnant energy and is also used to stimulate the elimination of toxins from the body through lymphatic stimulation.
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Tui Na - This form of massage based on the TCM principles of Yin-Yang, the Five Elements and the meridians of the body. Like acupressure, the goal of Tui Na is to encourage the flow of energy by interacting with and adjusting the flow of circulating vital energy called Qi. This is done using various holding and pressing techniques along meridians and at specific acupressure points. This relaxing hands-on therapy manipulates the joints, viscera and soft tissue, stimulating the body to release toxins, stagnant energy, and nervous tension. It can help to relieve pain and improve circulation of Qi and blood. In addition to relieving joint pain, muscle pain, tension and spasms, Tui Na can also bring relief to those suffering from chronic conditions such as insomnia, constipation, and headaches.
What is Ayurveda?What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
What to Expect in an Ayurveda Initial Intake Appointment Nutritional Education
Service Descriptions and PricingNew Patient Check-in
Clinic Hours
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | 9am to 5pm |
| Wed | 9am to 5pm |
| Thu | Closed |
| Fri | 9am to 5pm |
| Sat | 9am to 5pm |
| Sun | Closed |
Clinic phone:
865-588-1125
