First consultation
Your first consultation may take longer than subsequent appointments as your acupuncturist will first need to discuss your symptoms, take a medical history and assess your overall state of health.
The acupuncturist is trained to feel the six pulses on each wrist. The quality and rhythm of each pulse indicates how energy (or ‘Chi’) is flowing in your body. This helps the therapist to understand which energy lines need treating for your specific complaint to improve, as well as enhancing your overall energy and vitality. He or she should explain their diagnosis, their proposed treatment plan and what changes you may expect over a given period of time.
What to wear
Loose, comfortable clothing should be worn allowing the acupuncturist to access points on your torso as well as on your feet, hands, arms, legs and face.
Will it hurt?
Most people do not find acupuncture painful, although others claim it is not totally painless either! Fortunately acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to those used for injections or blood tests. They are much finer (as they are not hollow), and when inserted produce a tingling sensation or dull ache. Once inserted, needles may be left in place just for a couple of seconds or 30 minutes or more, depending on the desired effect.
To assist with the insertion, some acupuncturists use a smouldering herb to warm the acupuncture points and also encourage a smooth flow of the body's energy. If a patient dislikes needles, lasers may be used, or massage or tapping the acupuncture point with a rounded probe, to stimulate it and distract the patient at the moment of insertion.
Although there are around 500 acupuncture points throughout the body, an experienced acupuncturist may use no more than 12 in any one treatment. In subsequent treatments different points may be selected as your condition changes. Interestingly, an acupuncture point may not be situated near to the organ to be treated – for example, someone suffering from headaches may receive treatment on a point on their foot or hand!
How long will it take?
A course of treatment, as opposed to a single session, is normally recommended and positive changes in your condition should become apparent after four to six treatments.
