Patient/Client Information
Welcome to Summer's nutrition counseling, GAPS and acupuncture practice. On this page, you can find FORMS Summer may need you to fill out, as well as WHAT TO EXPECT from an appointment and HOW YOU MAY BENEFIT from her care. You can also read more about Summer's PHILOSOPHY OF PRACTICE.
Schedule your appointment with Summer by calling 541.326.8952, by emailing Support@SummerWaters.com, or by using our contact form. Summer is also avaiable for speaking engagements.
Forms
Our Notice of Privacy Practices is below. Please feel free to request a paper copy of this notice if you would like one. The most up-to-date copy of this notice can always be found here.
If you are a new patient, we welcome you to Summer's practice! These forms and documents will help you prepare for your initial visit with Summer.
NEW LOCAL PATIENTS
- Welcome Packet & New Patient Info: This is your copy of all the consent forms that you will sign as you begin care. This document includes the text of our Pricing & Financial Information, Informed Consent for Treatment, and Binding Arbitration Agreement documents.
- New Patient Paperwork: This is what we need you to print, fill out and sign before you come in for your appointment. It includes all the documents you find in the Welcome Packet & New Patient Info above, as well as a comprehensive health history form. Summer will need this entire document to be completed and available for her review at your first appointment.
NEW LONG-DISTANCE PATIENTS
- Welcome Packet & New Patient Info: This is your copy of all the consent forms that you will sign as you begin care. This document includes the text of our Pricing & Financial Information, Informed Consent for Treatment, and Binding Arbitration Agreement documents.
- Consent Forms: Download and print these forms, sign where indicated and mail the paper copies to Summer at 724 S. Central Ave., Suite 210 E, Medford, OR 97501. Summer does not have to receive these paper documents prior to your first appointment, but they should be in the mail by that first visit with Summer.
Summer may ask you to fill out the following form at any time during care to help her assess your current health status:
If you would like to provide feedback to Summer, including your success stories, please download the form below by clicking on the words "Testimonial Form". Once you have downloaded this form to your computer, you can type in your responses and either print it and give the hard copy to me, or save the form on your computer and send it as an email attachment to Support@SummerWaters.com. You can also print out the blank form and fill in your answers by hand if you prefer. Thank you!
back to top
What to Expect
- Initial Assessment
- Treatment
- What to Expect After Treatment
- Side Effects
- Temporary Exacerbation of Symptoms
- Course of Treatment
- Preparing for Your Treatment
Initial Assessment
Your first visit will begin with an in-depth assessment of your condition(s) and an initial treatment. The intake and treatment may take up to two hours, depending on your condition. Typical follow-up treatment sessions last approximately 60 minutes.
During the assessment, you may be asked about things that you might not think are connected to your chief complaint, such as your emotions, sleeping patterns, and eating habits. Asian medicine considers the whole person, not just one isolated symptom. When put together, the myriad of symptoms and signs you are experiencing reveal patterns of disharmony. Although treatment will focus on your chief complaint, your whole being must be considered in order to develop the most appropriate course of treatment. Through my study of Asian medicine and the human body, I have come to appreciate that while illnesses may be similar, the persons suffering from them are individuals with unique constitutional patterns. These differences help to determine the best treatment strategy.
In addition to the interview, several areas of your body may be examined if needed. These may include your wrist pulses, tongue, abdomen, back and other regions. These areas show much about what is going on in your body as a whole. A popular oriental maxim is: "The exterior reflects the interior".
Treatment
I use disposable, single-use, top quality needles for patient comfort and safety. Needles are typically retained for about 15-25 minutes. Soothing music will be played to help you relax during this time - many people even fall asleep during treatment! In addition to acupuncture, a treatment session may also include FIR heat therapy, Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), herbal prescriptions, recommendations for nutritional supplements, dietary changes and lifestyle suggestions to maximize your health improvements.
What to Expect After Treatment
Your relief may be immediate, delayed for a few hours, or even develop after one to three days. The relief may last for a few hours on the first visit and then last longer with each successive treatment, or relief may last from the first treatment until your next visit. Individual response to treatment varies and several factors influence treatment results. Summer regularly asks about any effects you noticed after your last treatment and will adjust your next session based on your important feedback.
Side Effects
Side effects are rare, but may include the following: feeling lightheaded, dizziness, sleepiness, euphoria, nausea, slight bruising, residual muscle aches. Any of these side effects should only last a short time. Staying hydrated after your treatments will help to minimize these side effects, as will resting after your treatments. Any side effects should be reported at your next visit or you can call me to discuss any response about which you would like immediate feed back.
Temporary Exacerbation of Symptoms
On rare occasions, one's original symptoms may briefly get worse after a treatment. This temporary intensification of symptoms may typically occur later on the day of your treatment and should only last for a few hours. After such an exacerbation, your symptoms should begin to improve. In the long run, acupuncture does not make symptoms worse. Please let me know about any type of response that you experience.
In some conditions, the body must fully expel a pathogen in order for healing to occur. For example, if you have a cold, acupuncture will not get rid of the cold, but it can help accelerate the cold cycle so your body recovers faster. If you are fatigued and beginning to get a cold, acupuncture can help your body fight it off before you come down with significant symptoms.
In cases of chronic pain, your original pain may improve and then unmask less obvious pain in the surrounding areas.
Course of Treatment
As part of your first visit, Summer will suggest a customized treatment plan with an appropriate course of treatment for your specific condition. In general, acute conditions of recent onset may only require two or three treatments, depending on the severity. Chronic conditions usually require more consistent treatments to achieve sustained results.
The ideal approach to illness is to begin treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to treat. For longstanding illnesses, weekly treatments may be required for several months in order to have the desired long lasting effects. For example, for patients planning on undergoing Western treatment for fertility, it is recommended that acupuncture and/or herbal treatments be started approximately three months in advance of Western treatment. However, many patients don't learn of the benefits of Chinese medicine until they are already undergoing Western treatment. In that case, it is best to start acupuncture and/or herbs as soon as possible along with proper nutritional support.
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. After you are feeling better, a few additional treatments may be recommended. 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. Your body is most vulnerable following recovery from illness because it has expended much of its energy and internal resources in order to get better. It is therefore important to have a few treatments in order to prevent repeated or new illness. In general, when an illness recurs it is often more difficult to treat.
Preparing for Your Treatment
The following suggestions are provided to help you have a safe and relaxing experience with acupuncture. Please read this section carefully. If you have any questions, please call us prior to your first visit.
* Please bring a list of current medications you are taking, including any prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins.
* Please bring any lab or medical reports relevant to your condition.
* Eat a light meal a few hours prior to your visit. Acupuncture is not performed on individuals who are fasting. Being over-hungry increases the risk of nausea or dizziness. At the same time, please do not overeat or eat any foods that cause your stomach to be upset (for example, rich, greasy, fried, or extremely spicy foods).
* Avoid alcohol on the day of your treatment. Acupuncture is not performed on intoxicated individuals due to the increased risk of shock. It is also not advisable to become intoxicated shortly after treatment.
* Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Acupuncture points are located all over the body. Many of the acupuncture points that are commonly used are located between the wrists and elbows and the ankles and knees. You will be more comfortable if your clothing can be easily and comfortably rolled up above your elbows and knees.
back to top
Schedule your appointment with Summer by calling 541.326.8952, by emailing Support@SummerWaters.com, or by using our contact form. Summer is also avaiable for speaking engagements.
How You May Benefit
Because oriental medicine works by achieving balance, no list of symptoms or conditions is comprehensive. Following are some commonly addressed concerns that may respond favorably to acupuncture, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. If an issue you are dealing with is not listed, please contact Summer for a complimentary phone consultation to determine if any of the services she offers may help you.
- Addiction (alcohol, drugs, smoking, food addictions, etc.)
- Allergies
- Anemia
- Angina
- Anxiety
- Arthritis, Tendonitis, & Joint pain
- Asperger's Disorder
- Asthma
- Atherosclerosis
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Autoimmunity Issues
- Auto Injuries
- Back Pain
- Behavioral Issues (ADD/ADHD, Aggressive Behavior, Hyperactivity, Mood Swings, etc.)
- Bell's Palsy
- Bladder and Kidney Infections
- Bloating
- Cardiac Issues (Arrhythmia/Palpitations/Irregular Heartbeat)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cholesterol Concerns
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Colitis
- Common Cold & Influenza
- Constipation
- Crohn's Disease
- Cystitis
- Degenerative Disc Disorders
- Dental Pain/Health
- Depression
- Diabetes / Endocrine Issues
- Diarrhea
- Diet, Nutrition, & Weight Control
- Digestive Concerns
- Dizziness
- Dysbiosis
- Dysentery
- Ear, Nose and Throat Issues/Infections
- Eczema
- Emotional Issues
- Eye Problems
- Facial Palsy/tics
- Failure to Thrive
- Fatigue
- Fertility Challenges
- Fibromyalgia
- Flatulence
- Food Allergies/Intolerances
- Gas (Flatulance, Bloating)
- Headaches & Migraines
- Heartburn/Acid Reflux
- Hiccoughs
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Immune System Weakness (Frequently sick - colds, flus, allergies, etc.)
- Incontinence
- Indigestion (Gas, Reflux, Bloating, Constipation, etc.)
- Infertility
- Injury Recovery and Healing
- Insomnia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Menopause Symptoms
- Men's Health Concerns/Prostate Health
- Menstrual Pain/Menstrual Irregularities
- Microbial Imbalances (Herpes, Jock Itch, Yeast Infections (Candida), Thrush, Bacterial Vaginosis, etc.)
- Morning Sickness
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Nausea
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Orthopedic Conditions
- Pain
- PMS & Menstrual Pain, Menstrual Irregularity
- Pregnancy Preparation and Health
- Reproductive Issues
- Rhinitis
- Sciatica
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Shoulder Pain
- Sinusitis
- Skin Issues (Acne, Rashes, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Eczema, etc.)
- Sleep Disturbances
- Sore Throat
- Sports Injuries
- Stress Reduction/Management
- Stroke
- Tension / Adrenal / Stress Syndromes
- Tinnitus (Ear Ringing)
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's/Bladder Infections)
- Vomiting
- Weight Issues (Under Weight, Over Weight, etc.)
- Work Injuries
- Wrist Pain
back to top
Schedule your appointment with Summer by calling 541.326.8952, by emailing Support@SummerWaters.com, or by using our contact form. Summer is also avaiable for speaking engagements.
Philosophy of Practice
Each of us are unique. This bio-individuality is one of the many reasons why it is important to receive personalized support from a health care practitioner who can help with the specific needs your body has. Often when we face health challenges it is common to feel overwhelmed by the various possible healing options. One of my skills is helping you understand what your most important next best step is in improving your health. I would then continue to work with your body's energetic pathways by utilizing acupuncture and other resources (herbs, supplements, super foods, etc.) to help you feel better and improve your over all health.
I am passionate about applying the knowledge I have acquired through extensive study in the areas of Oriental Medicine, nutrition, and overall health. I utilize ancient techniques (acupuncture, herbs, lifestyle recommendations) along with an understanding of modern technologies (western drugs, blood and saliva testing, and supplements).
I work with many patients with significant chemical sensitivities, and I am committed to choosing sustainable practices to preserve our planet. For these reasons, I use only organic cotton in my practice. CLICK HERE to read more.
I would be honored to be entrusted to serve you on your personal healing journey.
Please call or email today to schedule an appointment.
541-326-8952
Check out what Summer's client's have to say!