Dr. Liau's Expertise

In the last 20 years, Dr. Liau has been known to solve complicated cases in which the patients come to her as their last resort.  They often have exhausted all the medical options, besides surgery, or their doctors may ask them to find other alternatives.   As a result, many patients have been referred to Dr. LIau by various healthcare practitioners as well as her own patients' family members.  They all share one thing in common, that they have great confidence that Dr. Liau can help.

 

What To Do Before Treatment

Please arrive at the clinic on time would be fine.  Or, arrive 10 minutes early for new patients to fill out new patient questionnaire.   We do not take patients earlier than 10 minutes.

Please arrive with a clean mask on and wear a set of comfortable clothes to your appointment.  For those who come straight from work, we encourage that you bring a set of comfortable clothes to change, such as a tank top, shorts, or a clean t-shirt.  We do not offer gowns and towels anymore.

Make sure you have some snack to eat at least 30 minutes before treatment.

We encourage patients to bring their own water.  We do not offer water due to COVID.

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What to Expect In Consultation

During your initial visit, Dr. Liau will do a comprehensive assessment of your condition (15 minutes) followed by an examination and an acupuncture treatment lasting approximately 45 minutes.    You can also schedule a 30-minute consultation with Dr. Liau, which a majority of her patients do, especially for 3 or more conditions that need to be discussed.

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During the consultation, Dr. Liau will review any medical reports you may have, take into account your emotions, sleep patterns, lifestyles, to connect all of the above to your chief complaint. When put together, the myriad of symptoms and signs you are experiencing reveal patterns of disharmony.  And the treatment plan Dr. Liau designs for you will be Customized.  Therefore, your "whole being" will be considered in order to develop the most appropriate course of treatment.

 

What to Expect During Treatment

Dr. Liau's needling technique is very gentle.  Her patients usually do not feel anything or more like a small "mosquito bite," which disappears in moments. In some cases, you may experience some tingling sensation or slight pressure/numbness around the needle site, which is common to show signs of your body responding to the needle stimulation. Although people experience different levels of sensitivity, Dr. Liau will adjust the level that works for you.

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Needles are typically retained for about 25-35 minutes along with soothing music in the background.  Most patients do feel very relaxed during the treatment and even fall asleep.

 

What to Expect After Treatment (For Any Acupuncturist You May Go To)

Your relief may be immediate, delayed for a few hours or even develop after 1 to 3 days. The relief may last for a day after the first visit and then last longer with each subsequent treatment. Or, relief may last from the first treatment until your next visit. It is important to recognize that each individual responds to treatment differently and most likely, it will depend on how chronic and acute your condition(s) are.

 

Side Effects (For Any Acupuncturist You May Go To)

Side effects are rare but may include the following symptoms: light-headed feeling, dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, slight bruising, residual muscle aching. Any of these should last only a short period of time.  It is helpful to take a short nap after acupuncture. Always report to the doctor when you experience the above symptoms.

 

Flare-up (For Any Acupuncturist You May Go To)

On rare occasions one's original symptoms may briefly get worse or 'flare-up' after a treatment. A flare-up typically occurs later on the day of your treatment, only for a few hours or so and then improvement and relief follows. If the flare-up lasts longer than 48 hours, please let the doctor know.  Overall, acupuncture does not make symptoms worse. It is only the reaction from your body in responding to the treatment.  In some conditions, the body must fully expel a pathogen in order for healing to occur.

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In Conclusion

Once you initiate a healing process, it is important to follow through on treatments. The more consistent you are, the better the likelihood of results. The effects of acupuncture tend to be cumulative. Each treatment protocol may consist of five or more sessions, depending on the severity and how chronic each condition is.

 

After you are feeling better, Dr Liau will ask you to continue with herbal medicine for a few more weeks to ensure the ultimate result. In Chinese medicine, this is referred to as "solidifying the constitution." The goal is to further strengthen your body to prevent recurrence of the illness as well as new ones.

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