8 Things to Expect from Chinese Acupuncture Treatment
Chinese acupuncture is an effective natural remedy to alleviate pain and heal various medical conditions. People may be interested in the traditional medical treatment, but they remain unsure for their first time acupuncture and what to expect. Prospective patients can report feelings of anxiety when confronted by the fear of the unknown.
What to expect from acupuncture
This post aims to help people prepare what to expect from acupuncture and enter their first appointment comfortable about the process of acupuncture. No one wants to be surprised when their health is on the line. If people seek an informative guide to navigate their journey in this alternate therapy, this post will serve as a comprehensive checklist that educates and supports them.
Personal Questionnaire About Health & Goals
A questionnaire with single-choice, multiple-choice, ranking lists, and open-ended questions will be given to first-time acupuncture patients.
The questionnaire’s goal is to gain a thorough understanding of the patient’s medical history as well as the concerns they hope to address with treatment. This allows the practitioner to gain a clear picture of the medical situation and provide the best possible results. This pre-assessment tool assists TCM specialists in determining a patient’s needs and suitability for treatment.
Personalised Consultation
A consultation will be arranged with the Chinese Medicine practitioner where they will ask patients further questions to get a holistic understanding of the individual. Some questions could directly relate to the health condition and others may not be directly related.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine goes deep beyond the surface-level symptoms and targets the root cause of the discomfort. Practitioners will explore the lifestyle habits that affect the patient’s health. This multi-faceted approach helps develop a custom treatment that works for the specific individual.
Tongue Diagnosis
Tongue diagnosis is a vital component of Chinese acupuncture. According to the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, “Organ conditions, properties, and variation of pathogens can be revealed through observation of tongue.” Sometimes the tongue can reveal key information that mammograms and ultrasounds fail to trace with a chance of false-negative test results.
The appearance of the tongue can help an acupuncturist diagnose their patients promptly. Acupuncturists examine the tongue to get a glimpse into the person’s overall health by inspecting the color, texture, and coating. The inspection of the tongue could indicate any digestive issues and important deficiencies that need to be treated.
Pulse Diagnosis
After the tongue diagnosis, medical practitioners move on to the pulse diagnosis done on the wrist of the patient. The practitioner will use their three fingers to analyse the patient’s pulse at three levels of pressure on each wrist – superficial, middle, and deep. The pressure applied will increase gradually after each level.
Different pulse positions on each wrist can help the acupuncturist assess the different organs. The quality of the pulse can demonstrate the condition of the organs. The pulse can indicate strength, rhythm, and energy levels.
5. The Treatment
So, what to expect from acupuncture treatment? The first step of the procedure is determining the acupuncture points based on the area of pain. There are hundreds of acupoints located in the body through 14 major meridians.
The acupuncture practitioner will begin by informing the patient of the general site for the treatment. If clothing needs to be removed, a gown will be provided to change into before the application. Patients lie on the padded table for their treatment.
The acupuncture session can last anywhere between 30 minutes to 60 minutes, the duration will depends on the condition.
6. Painless Needles
Naturally, a lot of people are frightened by the pain associated with the needles, but people can rest assured that they will be fine throughout the process. In most cases, the needles are painless and there is minimal discomfort. People may feel a mild pricking sensation that fades shortly after. Acupuncturists have their own distinct style, which typically combines elements of Eastern and Western medicine.
Three steps of the needle application process:
- Needle insertion – Acupuncture needles are thin, and approximately 5-20 needles will be inserted at various depths to target specific areas of the body.
- Needle application – The acupuncturist may move the needles around after they are situated to treat the area.
- Needle removal –The needles will stay in place for about 10 to 15 minutes while the patient can rest.
7. Relaxing Sensation
Some patients go into a deep sleeping mode during their treatment. The procedure can provoke a relaxing atmosphere where people feel comfortable resting and recharging. Overall, most people can expect to feel relaxed and energised after their acupuncture appointment. Their energy levels may rise in the upcoming weeks and there is a positive lift in the mood. People can experience some relief from their anxiety and major stresses.
8. Treatment Plan
There is no single solution that works best for everyone, and it is best to explore other options to work in conjunction with acupuncture to improve current health conditions. There is tremendous value in creating a custom treatment plan in collaboration with a Chinese Medicine practitioner to achieve the optimal result for the individual’s needs.
For instance, combining acupuncture and moxibustion has proven to effectively treat insomnia after a stroke and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). According to a meta-analysis study, the results showed that “The effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with cupping in the treatment of PHN is significantly higher than that of conventional western medicine, and it can significantly prevent the occurrence of PHN.”
Each form of alternative therapy has unique benefits, and patients can combine two or three treatments to figure out what works best for them. A combined treatment plan can trigger better results than focusing exclusively on one.
Begin The Informed Healing Journey
Chinese acupuncture will benefit patients on their journey to better health and wellbeing. These nine pieces of information are standard practices that are to be expected as part of acupuncture therapy.
If you feel confident and ready to try Chinese acupuncture, get in contact with us today. Our qualified and experienced therapist will help you through your acupuncture journey from the very beginning till you achieve the desired results.
For more information about Chinese Medicine, book your free consultation with our Chinese Medicine experts today
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
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