New Patients · West Los Angeles
Everything you need to know before you arrive — the intake process, what needles feel like, how long it takes, and what to expect in the days after.
Step by step
Arrive 10 minutes early to complete your intake forms. These cover your health history, current concerns, sleep, digestion, stress levels, medications, and goals for treatment. The more detail you provide, the better — Janice reads every word before she sees you.
Address: 10801 National Blvd. Suite #228, Los Angeles CA 90064. Free parking in the building lot off National Blvd.
This is what separates Janice's approach from a typical acupuncture appointment. She sits with you and genuinely listens — not just to your chief complaint, but to the full picture. She'll ask about your sleep quality, energy levels, digestion, stress, menstrual cycle (if relevant), temperature preferences, and more.
She'll also perform a pulse diagnosis — reading 12 distinct pulse positions on each wrist — and a tongue diagnosis, which provides additional information about your internal state in Chinese medicine. These assessments take years to master and are used alongside your history to identify the underlying pattern driving your symptoms.
Many patients say this conversation alone is unlike any other medical appointment they've had.
You'll lie on a padded treatment table with a heating pad underneath. A face cradle is available if you're lying face-down. The room is warm, quiet, and softly lit. Most patients describe the environment as the first moment of genuine quiet they've had all week.
What to wear: Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that can be rolled up to the knees and elbows. Many acupuncture points are on the lower legs and forearms. You won't need to fully undress.
Janice uses single-use, sterile, hair-thin needles — about 10–20x thinner than a blood draw needle. Insertion takes only a second per point. Most people feel nothing; some feel a brief sensation as the needle passes the skin.
Once inserted, you may notice De Qi — a mild, often pleasant ache, warmth, or tingling around the needle. This sensation is considered a sign the treatment is working and that Qi (energy) is arriving at the point. Many patients find it deeply satisfying rather than uncomfortable.
Typically 8–20 needles are placed, depending on your condition. You'll always be asked about your comfort level throughout.
This is the part most patients don't expect to love as much as they do. You rest quietly with the needles in place — soft music, warm table, dim lighting. Janice may add moxibustion (gentle warmth from a dried herb), cupping, or e-stim (gentle electrical stimulation) if indicated.
Approximately 60–70% of patients fall asleep during this phase, even people who describe themselves as unable to nap. The nervous system shift is real and measurable.
Needles are gently removed — you'll barely notice. Janice reviews what she found, explains her assessment in plain language, and outlines a treatment plan. She'll tell you honestly how many sessions she expects you to need and at what frequency.
She may also recommend Chinese herbal medicine to continue the treatment's effects between sessions. All herbs are pharmaceutical-grade and reviewed against any medications you're taking.
"I'm very sensitive to needles but felt completely relaxed during my entire treatment. She makes you feel comfortable, is patient, and is incredibly knowledgeable."— Dina Gonzalez, West LA · ★★★★★
Common concerns
Almost every patient who comes in nervous about needles leaves surprised. The fear of needles usually comes from blood draws or injections — devices that are intentionally large to move fluid quickly. Acupuncture needles are nothing like that. They're solid, flexible, and narrower than a human hair. Many people can't feel them being placed at all.
If you're particularly anxious, tell Janice at the start. She'll go slowly, start with fewer needles, and check in throughout. Over time, virtually all needle-anxious patients find the treatment deeply relaxing.
Some patients feel strong sensations; others feel almost nothing during the session. Both are completely normal. The effectiveness of treatment doesn't depend on feeling strong sensations. Many patients who feel the least during treatment notice the most improvement in the days following.
The most common after-effects are positive: deep relaxation, better sleep that night, reduced pain, and an overall sense of ease. Some patients feel mild fatigue for a few hours as the body processes the treatment. Occasionally, symptoms briefly intensify before improving — this is a normal healing response in Chinese medicine and a good sign.
Have more questions? See the full acupuncture FAQ →