Friends!

Do you know someone that has been curious about acupuncture? In need of a treatment and needs a little push to get to Circle Community Acupuncture? Throughout the month of June, after each acupuncture treatment you will receive a Friend Card. The cards are good for one free treatment for first time patients at Circle CA.

We have come to think of our patients as our friends. Every time you come in we are genuinely happy to see you. Help us extend that feeling to your friends by inviting them to join us. If you enjoy your experiences at Circle CA, go ahead and share them by passing on a Friend Card.  

Cards are good for one new-patient treatment and will be honored until July 31st. Friends with cards can make appointments to come in the same time you do, or at anytime convenient for their schedule. 

We look forward to meeting your friends.

(please excuse the picture for this entry, I couldn't help my self)

Have you ever wanted to know more about acupuncture? Wondered what Community Acupuncture is? Would you like to know how acupuncture is like a bowl of noodles?

We are now selling the new book, "Acupuncture is Like Noodles", written by Lisa Rohleder, the founder of Working Class Acupuncture.

This book covers the above topics and more. It is written for patients, students, and acupuncturists. It addresses acupuncture and health care through the lens of class-politics, and includes a detailed view of how to run a Community Acupuncture clinic.

If you would like to purchase a copy, we are selling it at the clinic -- sliding scale (of course) $15 to $25.

Call or come by to pick up your copy!

Mother's Day!!!

I’ve been lucky enough to have my mom in town for the last three weeks. This is her first visit since the clinic opened. I was really excited for her to see the space and to meet Jenn and David. From the beginning, she and my dad have been nothing but supportive when it came to the clinic. I was pretty sure she would love what she helped me create with Jenn and David.
I brought her to Circle on her second day in town. Right away she liked the look and feel of the clinic. She seemed really comfortable when I gave her a treatment that day too.
This past Friday, on my day off together, we booked appointments with Jenn and David. We were both in need of some acupuncture. I’m always telling people that I really like the fact that at Circle, family and friends can come and receive acupuncture together. Its great catching two patients who know each other making faces at each other across the room. I thought my mom and I would joke a little too but in fact, we settled into our chairs quickly and once our needles were in, we both passed out and took naps side by side.
I’ve had a lot of fun with my mom this visit. We’ve packed quite a bit into these last few weeks--seeing old friends, having her meet new ones and showing off a city that I love. But I think my most memorable times from this visit of hers will be showing her the clinic for the first time and sharing some quiet time with her getting some acupuncture. Now, if only I could get my Pops on an airplane...

Melissa

Circle CA and "swine flu"

Recently there has been growing media attention and concern around the possibility of a H1N1 (“swine flu”) pandemic. We would like to address how this might affect you as a patient at Circle Community Acupuncture.

At Circle CA, we have always had a policy of treating anyone with common cold / flu symptoms, and following basic procedures to reduce the risk to others in the clinic (changing sheets, washing hands and using sanitizers, cleaning with antiseptic wipes.) We will continue to take the same precautions, and offer treatments to those who need them with one basic modification. If you are a patient with a fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, AND have a severe cough that is hard to control, we will ask you to post-pone coming into Circle CA until these symptoms start to show some improvement. If your symptoms become severe, please consult with an M.D. When you come in for a treatment, if you continue to have an uncontrollable expressive cough, we might ask you to wear a surgical mask out of consideration for others in the room.

We would like to ask everyone to avoid reacting with panic to the recent news coverage of the spread of H1N1 flu. At the time of writing this, only 14 cases have been confirmed in the entire State of California resulting in zero deaths. In the United States people who have contracted H1N1 have had mild symptoms with very few hospitalizations. 

The following is from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (http://www.sfcdcp.org/swineflu.html):

How to Protect Yourself
First and most important: wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethyl alcohol.

There is currently no need to avoid general public gatherings, public transit or school, or for healthy persons to wear masks.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Droplets from a cough or sneeze move up to 6 feet through the air. Some viruses can live up to 24 hours or longer on surfaces such as counters, tables, and door handles. Frequent hand washing will help kill swine flu virus.

If You are Sick or Think You May Have Swine Flu
In the USA swine flu cases have had mild disease, very similar to regular seasonal flu. 

 People who are mildly sick should stay home, drink plenty of fluids, and treat their symptoms with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). People with mild disease do not need to see the doctor or get swine flu testing. See our Flu Home Care Guide [English] [Spanish] for more information. 

If you have difficulty breathing, dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, a fever that remains >101 after taking acetaminophen, or are severely ill, you should seek medical care. Please call the doctor's office before going there, so that they can make arrangements for your arrival.

As a courtesy to others, if you are sick you should wash your hands frequently and consider wearing a surgical mask to help avoid spreading your flu viruses to other people.

Lastly, we at Circle CA would recommend one last bit of advice for protecting yourself… keep informed! Below are some helpful links for information:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/key_facts.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/regular.flu/index.html