What to Expect From First Acupuncture
Before any needles are inserted into your skin, the acupuncturist needs to meet with you to determine what type of treatment is right for you.
You will be asked questions about your health and lifestyle, and of course the parts of your body that are most painful. The acupuncturist will also examine the colour and shape of your tongue and the strength of your pulse.
This initial examination may take 15-20 minutes, as it is crucial to determine the type of treatment to give to you for your current state of health and your overall health.
During Your Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture needles are very thin, and there is little pain or no discomfort when they are inserted into your skin.
The acupuncturist will determine the appropriate points on your body. In some cases, the needles are inserted into places such as your arm, your hand or legs, places that can be accessed without requiring you to remove any clothing. If clothing needs to be removed, you will be given a towel so you can drape across yourself in order to feel comfortable and not exposed.
The needles only take a few minutes to be put in place. Depending on your state of health, your treatment may also include cupping, moxibustion and tui-na massage. Your acupuncturist will then check you are comfortable and leave you to rest for a period of 20-40 minutes. This is when most patients will experience such relaxation, they may doze off and what we acupuncturists like to say 'acu-nap'.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
At Acupuncture & Wellness in Moorooka, we take a holistic approach than simply performing acupuncture. Questions that were asked earlier are all taken into consideration to get to the root of the problems you are facing. And as such, you may be prescribed a formula of Chinese herbs specifically to your particular condition, situation and treatment needs.
The herbal formulas work to compliment the acupuncture treatment with additional recommendations such as adjustments to your nutritional intake and lifestyle.
After Your Acupuncture Treatment
The experience felt by patients after an acupuncture treatment is the feeling of being very relaxed, and a decline in the pain or discomfort they initially came in for.
It is very important to drink plenty of warm or room temperature water.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Watch what you eat. Try eat a light meal like vegetables and a small amount of good, healthy protein. Avoid processed foods, and foods high in sugar. Heavy meals will slow your body down.
Commit to the treatment plan recommended by your acupuncturist, as most times one session is not enough. You may need to come in for weekly sessions for a month, as the compounding benefits of the treatments will be beneficial to your happiness and health.
Acupuncture treatments are a medical treatment in the strictest sense. Like all medical treatments, it is not for everybody. So please during the initial consultation if you have any concerns, please address them to your acupuncturist.