Treatment

Patients in the Center’s Clinic are examined and evaluated by a team of Western-trained, Board-certified physicians with extensive experience in and knowledge of TCM who work as a team with licensed acupuncturists who are also trained in Western biomedicine.

Once at the Clinic, patients receive a thorough initial evaluation that consists of:

• An assessment of the adequacy of prior conventional work-up and treatment
• A complete history of the patient’s health status, including work-related stressors as well as psychosocial, traumatic, nutritional, and other lifestyle factors
• A conventional physical examination supplemented by a TCM diagnosis that includes palpation of acupoints and tongue diagnosis

After the initial evaluation, we develop an individualized integrative treatment plan to meet each patient’s needs. A typical treatment may include any combination of acupuncture, Chinese therapeutic massage, trigger point injections, as well as education on self-care. Patients will be monitored carefully and their referring physician will be updated.

When appropriate, patients may be referred for further diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation by expert clinicians within the UCLA Health System.

Help Yourself Heal

Critical to the healing process is the active participation of the patient. As part of our comprehensive treatment plan, patients are also given instructions on specific stretching exercises, self-massage, and acupressure techniques on specific points to optimize their healing. We encourage patients to take responsibility for their own health by following instructions for home exercise and by making lifestyle changes, because prevention of illness is as important, perhaps more important, as healing.