Preparing for acupuncture, please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. While acupuncture points are located throughout the body, most commonly used points are found between the elbow and wrists, and between the knees and ankles. It will be easier to access these points if your clothes are easy to roll up to your knees and elbows. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have. Before your first acupuncture treatment, you’ll receive a form to authorise treatment and provide preliminary information. Ideally, print and fill out our Intake Form (download here) before your appointment. If you need to complete the form on arrival, you can get it from the clinic.
Upon arrival, during your first appointment, you’ll be asked a few questions about your health history and presenting complaints. If you’re under the supervision of another healthcare professional, we’ll likely ask you questions about this as well. During this assessment, you may be asked about aspects of your life that you might not have considered related to your main complaint, such as sleeping habits and patterns, your emotional situation, your diet and eating habits, and other lifestyle matters. In Chinese medicine, your acupuncturist assesses the whole person, not just the symptoms or one specific symptom. By considering your lifestyle, stress levels, emotional balance, and diet and habits together, the patterns of disharmony that give rise to your condition are revealed and explained.
During your acupuncture appointment, your treatment will involve the gentle insertion of hair-thin Japanese needles to balance your body’s vital energy, known as Qi. Most people find acupuncture treatment relaxing and pain-free. The treatment may also include moxibustion (the burning of a medicinal herb near the skin), gentle electrical stimulation of the needles, or cupping (glass cups placed on the skin that produce a gentle suction). After the treatment, you’ll generally be left to relax with soothing music while the needles remain in your body for 20-30 minutes. Many people fall asleep during this time. We may return to re-stimulate the needle and encourage your body’s Qi to aid in your healing process.
After your acupuncture treatment Allow time after your acupuncture appointment to have a snack, water, and to move gently to your next activity. Many people feel deeply relaxed after acupuncture and want to go home and rest. Some people need to sit for a few minutes before driving. Other people feel very energized after acupuncture and want to be active. All these responses are fine. If possible, listen to what your body tells you to do after the session.
Very rarely, one of your symptoms may feel worse – or “flare up” – for a short period after your treatment. This usually happens later on the same day as your first treatment and lasts for 24 hours or less. Following this, symptoms typically start to get better. Overall, acupuncture doesn’t worsen symptoms. In some illnesses your body must completely get rid of a pathogen before healing can take place. For example, if you are have flu, acupuncture will not suddenly rid you of the flu but it can markedly accelerate the progression of the flu so that you recover more quickly. Similarly, if you are over-tired and are starting to get a cold, your acupuncture treatment strengthens your immune system, helping you to resist getting sick. If you have been suffering from chronic pain, that pain may lessen, but a more minor nearby pain may be unmasked.