What happens during acupuncture?
When you arrive for your acupuncture appointment, make sure you're hydrated, not hungry, and relaxed. Easier said than done if the reason you're getting acupuncture is to relieve tension!
During your session, your acupuncturist will ask a lot of questions. You'll be asked about the presenting condition (like period pains or insomnia), sleep patterns, energy, and digestion. You'll also have your pulse taken and your tongue checked.
The reason for this thorough investigation is to get the complete picture, a greater understanding of your lifestyle. All the answers are combined into the final product: a Chinese medication diagnosis called a 'pattern differentiation'.
This 'pattern differentiation' will be your treatment plan and it evolves as your symptoms change. It's a complicated process, but one that's refined to you as an individual because no one is the same.
Once your plan is ready, your course of acupuncture can begin. Typically, a session will last for 30 minutes to an hour, allowing time for the assessment of your health and symptoms, followed by the insertion of needles.
Acupuncture sessions will involve you lying down, and you may be asked to remove some clothes or roll your clothing up so that the practitioner can access parts of your body easily.
The needles used in acupuncture are very fine, you may feel a slight tingle or pressure when they are inserted. Acupuncture is not painful and certain areas of the body will be used based on your condition and symptoms.
Acupuncture should always be a pleasant experience.