What to Expect at my First Acupuncture Appointment?
The Big Picture: What is acupuncture about?
Your licensed acupuncturist is trained in ‘TCM Acupuncture’, or Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture. (Using needles is only one part of this training, and its approach differs from the acupuncture you may have received from your physiotherapist or chiropractor). It can be a richer, more complete approach to your health that has been around for thousands of years, and can complement your other health treatments. It is often a great option for pain.
We look for the root of the problem, not just a way to ‘cover up’ the problem (and the problem is really an opportunity…)
Its holistic premise presumes that your body, mind and emotions are inseparable and designed to self-heal (look at how many messages your mind and body exchange in any moment). The extensive training (over 2200 hrs) your licensed TCM acupuncturist receives includes a detailed knowledge of well over 300 points on your body, located on ‘meridians’, or theoretical ‘rivers’ that help energy, fluids and the body’s messages communicate with one another.
If something is making your feel pain or discomfort, whether that something is regular headaches, anxiety, sciatica, a sports injury, a frozen shoulder, digestive upset or hot flashes, that isn’t happening, we work with you to remove the barriers that block your body from healing itself, to create balance. Modern imaging has been able to discern that, among other effects, acupuncture can help the body release chemicals to help reduce pain and make you feel calmer, and many of the acupuncture ‘meridians’ are located in areas where our fascia is located.
What do I expect?
A 75 minute initial appointment, and a curious, friendly acupuncturist!
Lots of time for you to explain to us your worries, ideas and concerns, and for us to ask you a number of wide-ranging questions about your health, including sleep, mood, digestion, headaches, aches and pains, menstrual cycle, surgeries, body temperature, diet and lifestyle habits, to help us create a full picture of you for treatment ideas;
We may ask to see your tongue, and/or take your pulse; we may (with your permission if relevant), ‘palpate’, or clinically touch different areas to help us understand the body’s clues – might a spot be tender, feel better or worse with pressure, heat or cold, etc.
We make an initial quick treatment plan with a ‘points prescription’ or a selection of points (often fewer the first time) designed to help rebalance your energy, and support the conditions in your body preventing awesome health. Time for a short treatment – which might include needles (fine needles gently inserted in the skin - nothing is injected, and if they hurt after a few seconds, they can be removed) or acupressure; may also involve different therapies including heat therapy, cupping, gentle massage, dietary suggestions, movement therapies, ear acupuncture, foot points, or electroacupuncture.
NOTHING HAPPENS THAT YOU DON”T WANT! You are a critical part of treatment, and hopefully you will learn and become curious about how to manage your health. This is your treatment, and if you aren’t calm, healing is so much harder. If you are not comfortable with needles, you’re not alone. We still can use our knowledge to help you in other ways as mentioned above.
You are in a private room with your acupuncturist, with a comfortable, adjustable bed, sheets, pillows/bolsters, and relaxing lighting and sound to help make you more comfortable.
How often do I need to attend treatments? This is something you will discuss after your initial appointment – and depends upon whether you have an acute injury and you’re young and healthy, or you have a chronic condition and maybe some other challenges – we will make a plan together. Often you will have weekly appointments to start out until we can assess how quickly you are healing.
** We never tell you to stop taking medication that has been prescribed, and ** if you have an emergency, always call 911 or go to the emergency department, or call Telehealth, instead of waiting for your acupuncture appointment.
Common Q&A’s:
Will I get needles? Maybe! If you want… but not if you don’t want.
How many needles? We won’t know until we discuss your treatment – the answer is ‘it depends’, but we try not to use more than 10 points (which may be bilateral)… if you are older or smaller or in a weaker condition, it may be fewer. Whether it is an acute or chronic condition, how long the condition has been around, etc. are all factors.
Other modalities: We also have many other ‘tools’ in our tool kit to help access your body’s healing mechanisms like:
Cupping – (like a reverse massage with suction – remember seeing the Olympians’ circular red marks?)
Gua sha (called ‘skin scraping’), to release tightness and promote circulation in the associated tissues – TCM did it before beauty influencers!
Acupressure and/or some tuina (Chinese massage) techniques.
Electro acupuncture – which may work really well for conditions like sciatica or knee pain, among other conditions.
Ear seeds – auricular acupuncture – natural vicaria seeds on small adhesive tape placed on particular ear acupuncture points (and you can press these several times a day between appointments to prolong the effects of treatment), or perhaps an auricular electro device.
Show you qi gong/breathing techniques, movements for home – always simple!
Share some dietary supports – one or two simple additions to support your TCM diagnosis.
Written By: Susan Paterson
