Your acupuncture appointment
For your first acupuncture appointment there will be a detailed assessment of your condition and general health history; this is done by asking questions, looking at your tongue, and feeling your pulse. These will allow me to build up a picture of diagnosis and a direction for treatment. The initial appointment usually last between 1 1/2 and 2 hours.
The acupuncture needles used are sterile, disposable needles so there is no risk of infection - they are used once, then disposed of. The needles are small and hair-thin; they are solid, not hollow like needles used by doctors. Acupuncture needles are not designed to cut the skin. Acupuncture needles are so thin it’s as if they can glide through the spaces between the individual cells of the body. The sensation of the needles varies from point to point and also from person to person. People often describe the sensation as warming, heavy, numb or tingling.
Depending on the diagnosis reached there are different courses of treatment that may be suitable. Along with acupuncture, you may have:
•cupping which is suction cups placed on specific parts of the body - this commonly used for pain conditions.
•moxibustion which is the burning of a herb called mugwort over acupuncture points for the relief of certain conditions.Along with the acupuncture treatment, advice is given on lifestyle, nutrition, and general health issues during your appointment.
