Your First Visit to an Acupuncture Clinic

In China, people go to the acupuncturist in order to maintain their health, and prevent disease. In old China, the acupuncturist was paid as long as the patient maintained his health. This is a different approach from the modern American one, where people go to the acupuncturist when they have pain, or are bothered by some symptoms.

When you go to an acupuncture clinic in the US, you will find that the clinic looks very similar to any other professional clinic. You will be seated at a room, and the acupuncturist will start his consultation. The diagnosis is being done based on an observation and a discussion of your lifestyle, your symptoms and your environment.

The practitioner will check your pulse and look at your tongue, important contributors to your diagnosis. According to Chinese medicine there are different types of pulse, taken on several points of your wrist, and on both hands. The practitioner will also observe your face, and your demeanor.

At this time you will discuss your symptoms with your practitioner. Provide as much information as possible about your symptoms. What affects your pain? Are there any activities that increase your pain? Any that decreases it? What nature does the pain have? Is there any pattern that you can see, related to the time of day?

The acupuncture practitioner will also take in account if there is any relation to stress, and to life style. Observe your pain or your complaints for some time before you come in for your appointment, so that you can offer as much information as possible.

A course of treatment will be offered after your initial consultation, either right there and then, or maybe later, when you come in for your first treatment. The treatments will usually be not too long in duration, up to an hour. During acupuncture, very thin needles

will be inserted in very selective locations, depending on your symptoms.

You can expect this treatment to be painless. The needles will stay in for the appropriate time, and cause no discomfort. Insertion and removal of the needles is also painless, although you may feel a very faint sensation. Patients often feel very relaxed during the treatment, and often even fall asleep.

Whether you feel any change during treatment or not, be aware that the needles do function. The needles regulate the flow of energy in your body and balance it. You will probably be offered a series of treatments (one rarely suffices) and with each treatment, you will be advancing towards your health related goal.