Spend some time thinking about what you would like to achieve from your acupuncture treatment. If you have several conditions or symptoms you would like to address, rank them by priority. On your first visit to the clinic, you will be asked about your chief complaint. Secondary issues will also be noted and addressed as the treatment progresses.
Visit Preparation
The following suggestions are provided to help you have a safe and relaxing experience with acupuncture.
- Eat a light meal 1 to 2 hours prior to your visit.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of your treatment.
- Avoid heavy exertion immediately before, and after treatment, including heavy working out
- Allow enough time so that you are not rushing to and from your visit.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can be rolled up to your elbows or knees
- Please avoid perfumes or fragrances on the day of your appointment
- You may want to empty your bladder
What to Expect
Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments have four parts. First is the questioning, or asking. I may ask you about some things that you might not think are connected to your chief complaint, for example, your emotions, sleeping patterns, and bodily functions; these symptoms will show me patterns of disharmony.
There is a listening and smelling portion. I will be listening to your voice as you speak.
There is a palpation, or “feeling” portion. I will check your pulse in six different positions. I will also be looking at your tongue for the color, coating and shape. With your first visit this will take longer, perhaps one half hour to forty-five minutes.
After the needles are inserted, plan on resting for about twenty minutes. During that time you may feel heaviness, electrical sensations, deep relaxation, a floating feeling, or very little. Pain is never ok. Tell us immediately if that is the case. We come in part way through the session to see if you are feeling okay and possibly stimulate the needles.
After the needles are removed, sit up slowly and drink a glass of room temperature water. If you can, avoid iced drinks, cold foods, cold showers or cold drafty areas for twenty-four hours.
There is a listening and smelling portion. I will be listening to your voice as you speak.
There is a palpation, or “feeling” portion. I will check your pulse in six different positions. I will also be looking at your tongue for the color, coating and shape. With your first visit this will take longer, perhaps one half hour to forty-five minutes.
After the needles are inserted, plan on resting for about twenty minutes. During that time you may feel heaviness, electrical sensations, deep relaxation, a floating feeling, or very little. Pain is never ok. Tell us immediately if that is the case. We come in part way through the session to see if you are feeling okay and possibly stimulate the needles.
After the needles are removed, sit up slowly and drink a glass of room temperature water. If you can, avoid iced drinks, cold foods, cold showers or cold drafty areas for twenty-four hours.
Treatment Course
Since individuals vary, it is difficult to state definitively at the time of your first visit how many treatments will be required for your concern.
The ideal approach to illness is to begin treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to treat. For longstanding illnesses, weekly treatments may be required for several months in order to have a curative effect.
Once you initiate a healing process, it is important to follow through on treatments. The more consistent you are, the better the likelihood of results. The effects of acupuncture tend to be cumulative.
After you are feeling better, we will likely recommend an additional few treatments. The goal of these "maintenance" treatments is to further strengthen your body to prevent the reoccurrence of the illness.
Maintenance treatments keep your body in a state of health, and are the most recommended plan.
- Dona McGlennen L.Ac.
The ideal approach to illness is to begin treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to treat. For longstanding illnesses, weekly treatments may be required for several months in order to have a curative effect.
Once you initiate a healing process, it is important to follow through on treatments. The more consistent you are, the better the likelihood of results. The effects of acupuncture tend to be cumulative.
After you are feeling better, we will likely recommend an additional few treatments. The goal of these "maintenance" treatments is to further strengthen your body to prevent the reoccurrence of the illness.
Maintenance treatments keep your body in a state of health, and are the most recommended plan.
- Dona McGlennen L.Ac.