Acupuncture Treatment: What to Expect
It’s your first time trying acupuncture. What can you expect at your first appointment?
First of all, relax! It’s not as scary as you may think. Many people are nervous when they arrive for their first acupuncture treatment. The acupuncture needles are virtually painless and we are quite good at putting you at ease and making sure you are comfortable and feel safe. We will explain to you what we will be doing, how it feels and we may even needle ourselves first, to show you exactly what to expect. Any and all questions are answered before we move forward.
Intake
It is important to fill out the new patient paperwork prior to your scheduled appointment time. When you arrive, we will review it before calling you back for your initial consult. The first treatment, we spend the bulk of our time talking about your complaints and taking a detailed intake of your health status and history. During this process, we may perform any number of diagnostic tests which include palpation of different areas of your body, taking your pulse, and observing the color and shape of your tongue. After gathering all the pertinent information, we will proceed with your treatment.
Your comfort is very important!
We will ask you to lie on the treatment table. If we will need to gain access to any areas that are covered in clothing, we will have you remove them and will provide items to drape yourself with. As the acupuncture treatment begins, you will feel your practitioner palpating for acupuncture points, some of which may feel tender to the touch.
The needles
Acupuncture needles are very thin: about the same diameter as a human eyelash.
As mentioned above, the insertion of acupuncture needles are nearly painless. The needles are about the size of a human eyelash. The insertion of each needle is very quick. Many of them you will not feel, and some will feel like a minor prick – similar to having one of your arm hairs pulled. After inserting the acupuncture needles, we will leave the room and allow you to rest. If at any time, you are uncomfortable, you will be able to call for us.
After the session
After returning to the room, we will remove the needles and may follow with essential oils and/or massage. Then you will be allowed to gather your things and re enter your daily life with a clearer sense of well-being.
There are not technically any contraindications for activity after you acupuncture treatments. It is often advised to drink plenty of water after each session. When you first start acupuncture, do not plan on beginning a new and vigorous work out routine immediately following your session, as you need to allow your body time to adjust to its new norm and we don’t want to overload the system. But if you already have a workout routine, you can continue at the pace you have been accustomed to.
In between treatments
In between your acupuncture treatments, it is important to follow the lifestyle recommendations made by your practitioner as best you can. Changes in diet and lifestyle have a profound effect on all aspects of your health and well being. If your goal is to feel better, these are crucial.
Engage your acupuncturist in a partnership. Your body has an innate desire to be in optimal health, and we are here to help you remove any obstacles to that. We are here to help and support your journey to better health. We do our best to help you heal, and if you do your best as well, chances of success are much higher!
You will have email access to your practitioner, so any questions you have will be promptly addressed.
The second appointment
At your second appointment, we will review your Chinese Medicine diagnosis and offer recommendations for diet and lifestyle adjustments. We may recommend herbs or supplements, and give you an idea of how many acupuncture treatments and how often will be necessary to get the results that you seek.
You will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and offer feedback. Your practitioner will make a recommendation for when to return for your next appointment. It is suggested that you schedule your follow up appointment(s) before you leave to ensure you get a time that works for your schedule and are able to get in with the practitioner that you prefer seeing.
We look forward to taking excellent care of you!
