First visit?
The acupuncture treatment you receive will always be adapted to your reality. No two are the same and your needs will always be taken into account. Don’t hesitate to talk about your fears and ask your questions.
Before the appointment
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Make sure you 've eaten something recently or, at the very least, make sure you're not ravenously hungry.
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Prepare a list of your medications , as they will be taken into account.
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Bring clothes in which you are comfortable .
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Most acupuncture points are from the elbow to the hand and the knee to the foot. Therefore, it is rare to have to remove much of your clothing during a treatment session. Make sure what you wear sets you up for relaxation.
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If you brush your teeth, don't brush your tongue . There is a coating on your tongue that may be interesting to observe during your treatment. This helps clarify the energy balance.
During the meeting
On your first visit, a complete health check will be done, which will include follow-up questions from the form you have completed (follow this link if you still need to complete your form).
Part of the energy balance might involve taking your pulse and checking your tongue.
The needles are disposable and are disposed of as medical waste. There is never any reuse of needles.
Needles are much thinner than needles used for other medical purposes. You will probably feel them very little, if at all.
To relieve the pain, you may be offered other modalities, such as cupping, which can cause temporary red marks on the skin . These marks are painless and therapeutically beneficial. If for some reason you don't want these marks, don't hesitate to mention it during your treatment.
Remember to go to the small corner before placing the needles. It will help you relax ;-)
While placing needles, most people new to acupuncture are surprised by the state of deep relaxation they find themselves in.
After the appointment
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After acupuncture, you will probably feel very relaxed and perhaps a little sleepy. However, the drowsiness passes quickly and you will be able to continue the normal activities you had planned for the rest of the day.
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Although rare, some people with chronic pain report that their symptoms temporarily worsen for a few hours before experiencing profound relief.
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It is sometimes recommended to schedule several acupuncture sessions close together, because the benefits have a cumulative effect. With each session, the relief from your problems should last longer. Additionally, most people notice that other aspects of their health improve as well. It is common to notice increased energy, better mood, better digestion, better sleep, etc.
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Do not hesitate to contact your therapist if you have any questions in the days following your treatment.
Frequency
Acupuncture treatments should be more frequent during periods of acute discomfort in order to manage the problem and restore harmony to the body's systemic flow. In times of relative health, preventive treatments, particularly during seasonal changes, can help restore a good flow of energy in order to promote lasting health.
By discussing with the therapist you will be guided towards what best suits your needs.
Role of the acupuncturist
The therapist develops listening skills that allow him to grasp, among all the environmental, psychological and physical information that you share with him, what promotes the emergence or recurrence of discomfort. It seeks to find which forces to call upon to indicate to the body the paths to take so that you can find balance on all levels . Thus, the acupuncturist can be seen as a mediator between the parts of yourself that suffer and those that are able to heal them. Through the needles, it sends an impulse to the body to direct its energy towards the areas to be treated .
Acupuncture Needles
Acupuncture treatments aim to balance the free flow of energies in the human body. In doing so, they activate the natural self-healing potential of the system.
The installation of the needles on different points of the body is smooth and painless. Once they are in place, you rest in the room for about 30 to 40 minutes. Everything is done to make you feel comfortable; the calm environment as well as the treatment promote deep relaxation .
During the rest period, you may feel some needles more strongly than others, and this is normal. Remember that treatment involves a generous flow of energy and that sometimes, in order to tone and balance, the energy needs to be encouraged to "move forward" rather than to remain stagnant.
suction cups
Cupping is most often used in cases of muscle pain or stiffness. They can also be used for anything relating to digestive disorders or allergies. Suction cups are made of glass or plastic. Once applied to the skin, they produce suction and are held in place for a few minutes at a time. The objective of this technique is to relax the muscles and produce a lasting systemic effect.
Gua-sha
Gua-sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves stimulating the surface of the skin using a round-edged instrument.
This technique locally eliminates what traditional Chinese medicine calls “blood stagnation,” which is believed to prevent healthy circulation of body fluids in the tissues. Quick relief from pain, stiffness, fever / chills, cough, nausea, etc. is generally found.
Scraping of the skin causes micro-lesions of the subcutaneous blood vessels causing reddish or purple traces to appear on the skin for 3 to 5 days after treatment. The appearance of these traces is a desirable confirmation of the effectiveness of the treatment.
