FAQs Regarding Acupuncture
What to do before treatment?
Make sure you have eaten something within four hours before your appointment, especially if this is your first treatment. The purpose is to make sure your blood sugar doesn’t drop too low during treatment.
What to bring?
If you have any relevant diagnostic materials, for instance x-rays, blood work results, etc, feel free to bring those and we will be happy to look at them, as they provide helpful information for diagnosis and treatment.
What to wear?
Wear loose clothes that can be rolled up to at least the knee and elbow without over-constricting the limb.
What to do after treatment?
After treatment it is important to avoid cold, windy areas, so if the weather is inclement make sure to bundle up. Patients often feel calmer after treatment, so if possible, it’s nice to schedule a little rest time after the treatment for a nap or just to relax. Tuina often involves deep tissue work, so it is expected to have soreness for a day or two, after which the area should show a marked decrease in discomfort.
Regarding Herbal Treatment
Does TCM integrate well with other treatment methods?
Acupuncture and tuina work well with practically all other treatment methods, including pharmaceuticals, for two reasons. First, they both engage the body’s own healing mechanisms rather than inputting foreign substances.
Second, acupuncture points are bi-directional in their effects, much like an adaptogen. For example, the same point that will stop diarrhea on one patient will not make a constipated patient worse, in fact it may alleviate that as well.
Herbal medicine also combines very well with other methods, including western pharmaceuticals. In fact, herbal medicines can not only treat diseases, but also remediate the side effects of other medications when prescribed appropriately. However, herbal medicine requires more knowledge of interactions on the part of the practitioner, considering that they are introducing new substances into the patient’s body. Mastery of both classical and modern herbal texts is the foundation to safe and effective herbal prescriptions.