What to Expect From Your First Acupuncture Treatment
You can expect your first visit to last about an hour. I’ll begin by asking you to fill out a complete medical history form, which we will discuss in detail.
You can expect your first visit to last about an hour. I’ll begin by asking you to fill out a complete medical history form, which we will discuss in detail. This will give me an overview of your general health history, an understanding of the development of your chief complaints and will allow you to bring up any questions you may have. I will then observe your tongue, feel your pulse and palpate your abdomen. These steps are part of Traditional Chinese Medical diagnosis and help me to evaluate your overall health and to determine which acupuncture points and which Chinese Herbal formulae might be relevant to your treatment. Where muscular-skeletal evaluation is indicated for conditions as headache, sports injuries, etc., I will perform a physical exam relevant to the situation. I’ll then discuss the course of treatment I feel will benefit you most, the number and frequency of visits I recommend and the relevance of such modalities as massage, electro acupuncture, herbal prescriptions, nutrition and exercise in the overall treatment plan.
Everyone reacts in different ways to acupuncture treatment, so it is always difficult to determine precisely what will be needed at the beginning of a course of treatment. Typically for a chronic condition that is of more than three months duration, a minimum of six to ten treatments will be necessary, beginning twice a week, then moving to once a week. The effects of acupuncture are cumulative and I usually expect patients to feel some improvement after three to four treatments in a chronic condition and perhaps immediately in an acute condition of recent onset.
Most people are understandably nervous about getting their first acupuncture treatment. It is important to remember that the needles are hair thin, very rarely cause bruising and are not hollow. They do not hurt like getting an injection or having blood drawn. If a needle hurts for more than a few seconds after insertion then I’ll take it out or adjust it so that it is comfortable. I generally use six to twelve high quality, sterile, disposable needles in the body and a few in the ear if needed. Many patients experience a sense of profound relaxation and wellbeing during the treatment. Because of this, I think you will find your treatment to be a source of pleasure rather than anxiety.
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