What is a typical acupunctureWhat is a typical acupuncture treatment like?
Because traditional Chinese medicine predates the more invasive medical testing used in conventional Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine requires skill in a range of diagnostic systems not commonly used outside of traditional Chinese medicine. Typical acupuncture treatments use diagnostic systems which include performing an in-depth acupuncture therapy medical intake, tongue diagnosis and observation, and pulse diagnosis.
The in-depth acupuncture therapy medical intake, tongue diagnosis and observation, and pulse diagnosis allow me to create an individualized diagnosis specifically tailored to you, your chief complaint, and your condition or disease. One of the core strengths of Chinese medical treatments is its ability to diagnose in such fine detail.
Once I have determined a diagnosis, the acupuncture treatment may begin. Most of the commonly used acupuncture points are located below the elbows and below the knees. Therefore, patients usually just have to roll up their sleeves and pants and lay down on the table. If possible, it is recommended that you come dressed in loose comfortable clothing. If additional points are required, gowns and draping are provided. Each point is then cleaned with an alcohol swab and the fine sterile disposable acupuncture needle is inserted. Acupuncture needles commonly remain in place for fifteen to forty minutes depending on the acupuncture treatment. Care is taken to ensure that you are neither too hot nor too cold while resting. I always check on my patients halfway through the acupuncture treatment to make sure they are comfortable. Acupuncture treatments tend to be very relaxing and many people fall asleep during treatments.
Do acupuncture needles cause pain?
At the end of the acupuncture treatment, the needles are removed and disposed of. If treatment of your condition will include taking traditional Chinese herbal medicine, we will discuss it at this point.
How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
Acupuncture therapy medical intake
The initial acupuncture treatment begins with an in-depth acupuncture therapy medical intake in which we discuss your chief complaint and overall health. I will ask you common questions about allergies, hospitalizations, medications, and previous diagnoses. I ask that you please bring with you a list of any medications, vitamins and supplements that you may be taking. In addition, Chinese medical acupuncturists like myself ask further questions to gain a deeper picture of health. These diagnostic questions are designed to shed light on some of the more subtle clues as to how your qi is flowing and where imbalances may be. How is your energy level? At what point during the day is your energy the lowest? When is it the highest? Do you tend to be too hot or too cold? If too cold, does your whole body get cold or just your hands and feet? Do you like to drink warm drinks or cold drinks? How is your appetite and digestion? What foods do you crave? Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you have trouble staying asleep? How is your level of stress and what do you do to reduce it? If you are female, then some of the questions will be gynecological in nature. All of these questions pull out pieces of helpful information that are right in front of us but escape the awareness of people who are not looking for them. These questions not only help me create a diagnosis, but they also give you a framework from which to begin learning about and judging your own health.
In subsequent visits, the acupuncture therapy medical intake is much shorter. The medical intake highlights any changes that have happened since the last treatment.
Tongue Diagnosis and Observation
Next, I will observe the top surface and underside of your tongue. The tongue is the only muscle in the human body that can be seen from the outside. Therefore, tongue observation gives Chinese medical acupuncturists detailed information about the strength and quality of qi and blood in the body. In small children, the vein of the index finger is observed for the same reason.
Finally, I will palpate the radial artery pulse in each wrist. In pulse diagnosis, Chinese medical acupuncturists palpate in three different positions to feel for the strength and quality of qi and blood.
How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
The amount of acupuncture treatments you will need depends completely on the duration, severity and nature of your complaint. Acute conditions and diseases tend to need less acupuncture treatments than more chronic conditions. Because traditional Chinese medicine treats such a wide range of ailments, a reasonable estimate can only be given once the nature of the complaint is understood. Resolution of an acute back injury in an otherwise healthy person can take one treatment whereas it may take months to achieve pregnancy in a woman with fertility issues. You will schedule appointments further and further apart once the desired results have been achieved. Once the chief complaint is resolved, patients may return 2-4 times per year for a check up and some slight rebalancing.