5 Things to do before and after your appointment.

Going for an acupuncture appointment is not always like going for any regular doctors appointment. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have a holistic approach and assess the whole body. We are looking for patterns in your symptoms rather than making a diagnosis on a condition. You are an individual with your own symptoms that may not be the same as someone else's and that is important to your treatment. So here are 5 things you should do before your appointment and 5 things to do after getting acupuncture. 

Before your appointment:

1. Research your acupuncturist.

Read their about me, get to know them. We all have different interests and practice in different styles. Some are looking for a more spiritual healing and others are looking for specialised interests. Understand your doctor because you will more than likely have to discuss some more personal information with them and want to feel comfortable. 

2. Know your health history and goals 

We like to go into detail about absolutely everything from digestion to menstrual cycles, getting a clear picture of you from head to toe. We are trying to understand you as an individual so that we can find exactly the right treatment for you and your health goals. 

3. Wear lose fitting clothes 

Most acupuncture points are located from the knee down and the elbow down; however, there are points all over the body and depending on your symptoms and the practitioner's treatment style, we may want to use different points. It is important to wear something loose and comfortable so that we can have modest access. 

4. Have a light meal 

Having something to eat before your appointment is important. If your blood sugars are low there is a risk of fainting or feeling light headed and dizzy after an acupuncture treatment. Have something small to help boost your blood sugars and Qi. 

5. Stay hydrated

Drink some fluids before your treatment again, to prevent you from feeling faint or dizzy and so that your body is nourished and prepared to heal. 

Okay! All prepared for your acupuncture journey. Now if your practitioner didn’t go through some of these, these are 5 things I recommend you do after your appointment to get the most out of your treatments and keep that Qi invigorated. 

1. Avoid overworking yourself

Give yourself some time to heal and recover. You can exercise if you like or go for a brisk walk however, try to avoid strenuous exercise and overworking yourself. You don’t want to undo all that great healing. 

2. Skip alcohol 

It is best to avoid alcohol after your appointment. Alcohol in Chinese Medicine is damp and hot which can cause other conditions to arise that we are trying to avoid. We are trying to balance out the body, it is best to steer clear. 

3. Keep hydrated 

Whilst we are staying away from alcohol, it is best to keep up your fluids and try and not have too many dehydrating beverages such as coffee. Caffeine will overstimulate your nervous system just after we regulated it. 

4. Try and not schedule high stress activities. 

You are relaxed and feeling zen after your treatment, try and not ruin that calmness by introducing something stressful right after your appointment. If it is unavoidable then get your acupuncturist to include some points to keep those stress levels down. 

5. Avoid cold exposure 

Keeping nice and warm after your appointment will help with your blood and Qi flow. Chinese Medicine believes that the cold slows things down causing stasis and blockage which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve. We want your Qi flowing so that your body can heal and continue healing long after your treatment. 

There's 5 things before and after your treatment. If you don’t get around to all of them every appointment it is not the end of the world, we will forgive you.