Your first session:
Although acupuncture is becoming increasingly common as an alternative or complementary therapy to Western medicine, many first-time patients don't know what to expect on their first visit.
1. Expect some personal questions. In addition to a physical examination, most acupuncturists will ask you about various aspects of your health and lifestyle. These questions often involve detailed descriptions of your bowel movements or, for women, your menstrual cycle. The more details you provide, the better the diagnosis, so it's worth thinking about this before your appointment.
2. It's important to eat something in the few hours before your treatment. You don't need to have a full meal, but at least a snack can help give your body enough energy to get the most out of your treatment. Receiving acupuncture on an empty stomach can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, or even fainting.
3. You may not need to remove your clothes to receive acupuncture, as you would for a massage. However, acupuncturists may need to access certain areas beneath your clothing, but they will cover you appropriately so that only small areas of skin are exposed. We recommend wearing loose-fitting clothes so sleeves can be rolled above your elbows and trouser legs can be pulled above your knees.
4. You may be asked to show your tongue, have your pulse taken, and have your abdomen palpated.
Acupuncturists are interested in the condition of your internal organs, and these methods help them determine the best treatment for you. Also, just as in reflexology, different areas of the tongue, radial pulse, and abdomen correspond to different organs in the body.
5. Acupuncture needles are much thinner than hypodermic needles. If you're afraid of needles, keep in mind that acupuncture needles are about the width of two to three strands of hair and are actually quite flexible. People are often surprised that they feel no pain when the needles are inserted or once they're in place.
6. Acupuncturists never reuse needles. The needles we use on you have never been used on another patient. This means there is virtually no risk of contracting an illness from acupuncture, because the needles are made from very thin, flexible, surgical-grade stainless steel.
7. Acupuncturists use more than just needles. Although needles are our primary tool, a variety of other techniques may also be used, such as acupressure (applying finger pressure to acupuncture points instead of using needles), cupping (suction applied to the skin), moxibustion (heating the skin), or Qi Gong (energy healing).
Ready for your first acupuncture treatment?
8. A single session is often not enough to treat what's bothering you. The number of sessions needed depends on the individual. Someone with a chronic condition may need one to two sessions per week for several months. An acute problem usually improves after 2 to 5 sessions.
