I admit it. I don’t love needles. But who does?
As an acupuncturist, you would think I love needles. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the healing power of these teeny needles and I can treat patients without batting an eye. But when it comes to getting pricked myself….I still cringe. And when I need to get blood drawn at the hospital…? Its not pretty…>.<
So if someone like me doesn’t necessarily enjoy getting needled….I can only imagine how intimidating it is to everyone else.
So this post is dedicated to anyone who thought about coming in for an acupuncture treatment, but then decided they would rather suffer the headaches (or insomnia, back pain, menstrual pain, etc etc etc) than come in out of fear of needles.
Let me give you a step by step guide of what to expect, because for me, most of the fear is in the unknown. When I know what’s coming and exactly when, that erases at least 90% of the anxiety I feel.
Most likely, your acupuncturist will have you fill out an extensive medical history/intake form. It will ask you the standard questions that most doctor’s offices will ask: Why are you here? What procedures have you undergone? Where is the pain? What medications (OTC or prescribed) are you currently taking? Any allergies? etc
But at an acupuncturist office, expect to answer a few more questions such as: What are your bowel movements like? Do you tend to drink cold water or warm water? Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do your symptoms get worse in the morning or at night?
These questions may seem a bit odd, and maybe even a bit intrusive. But don’t worry, there’s a method to the madness. (and perhaps another post explaining Chinese Medicine in the future) Just be as detailed and accurate as you can. No one expects you to remember everything perfectly and any good acupuncturist will ask you follow-up questions throughout the session.
Once your medical history as been established, and questions about why you are here as been determined, your acupuncturist will most likely ask you to stick your tongue out.
Yes. Your tongue.
I know. weird. But bear with us. Your tongue is a powerful diagnosis tool for us.
Once the tongue has been observed, your acupuncturist will most likely take your pulses. Yes. plural. There are 6 pulses on the wrists that most modern acupuncture will take. They correspond to different organs in the body, and the quality, size, speed, etc give us an idea of your health and symptoms.
After all these questions, tongue observation and pulse taking has happened, then the real fun begins.
The acupuncturist should begin swabbing the points on your body that he or she plans on placing needles in with alcohol.
The needles will go into points on your body depending on they symptoms and diagnosis determined by your acupuncturist. Take a deep breath and relax. These needles are tiny and are mostly painless.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d be lying if I said it was 100% painless. Because some places on your body are more sensitive than others (such as hands and feet) and the needles do have to penetrate your skin. So you’ll most likely feel a short-lived prick. And once the needle is in, you may even feel what we call “needle Qi” sensation. Its a pulling, deep achy sensation that indicates to us that your body is “accepting” the needle. You won’t feel it with every needle and every point, but if you do, enjoy it! But if there is a sharp pain that lasts more than that initial skin penetration, don’t hesitate to tell your acupuncturist. I know that some people think “no pain, no gain” but if you can’t tolerate the needles for the full treatment sessions, then you are not gaining at all.
Once the needles are all in, you will be left alone to rest for about 30-40 minutes. Most people use this time to meditate or even fall asleep. At the very least, you should just relax and not check or answer your phone during this time. The needles do their magic best when you are relaxed. We leave them in for 30 to 40 minutes so that the Qi (or Chi) can flow through your body during this time, promoting circulation and “unblocking” any stagnation of Qi and blood that is causing your symptoms and/or pain.
At the end of your treatment, your acupuncturist will take out your needles. Sometimes there will be a drop of blood upon taking the needle out, and just a few seconds of pressure with a clean cotton ball is sufficient to stop the bleeding. You may have a little redness at the site of the needles, which is normal. Very rarely it can be an allergic reaction, so if it lasts more than a few hours, let your acupuncturist know. Occasionally there will be a bruise at the site of the needle. Acupuncturists try to avoid this, but it does happen.
Many people ask me if there are any precautions they must take after their acupuncture session. I usually tell my patients to take it easy, since people feel a little tired afterward, like they are waking up from a deep sleep. The needles do not leave a lasting opening in your skin, so you’re free to take a shower or go swimming. But usually, you feel so relaxed that you’d rather go home and take it easy instead.
Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended. This allows for easy access to most acupuncture points as well as your comfort. Most acupuncturists keep their treatment rooms warm, and even have heat lamps to help with this. If you tend to get over heated, don’t hesitate to tell your acupuncturist.
And remember, all treatments should be within your comfort level. If anything bothers you, or is painful, speak up! Even if its the most effective treatment you could receive, if you are not comfortable with it, then it is moot. Your comfort is key!
Shoot me any questions or concerns you may have about acupuncture!