Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We specialise in:
- Aches and pain and musculoskeletal problems such as tendonitis and bursitis, frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis, knee problems and migraines.
- Sleep problems.
- Digestive issues such as heartburn, bloating, constipation, IBS
- Stress and anxiety.
- Menstrual and hormonal issues such as PCOS, endometriosis, heavy or irregular periods, menopausal symptoms.
- Allergies and sinusitis.
- Recovery from surgery or illness.
Before your acupuncture session there are several things you should bear in mind:
· Many commonly used acupuncture points are located on the lower arms and legs, so it is helpful to wear clothing that allows easy access to these areas so that you do not have to change.
· Try not to go for treatment on an empty stomach (this may cause you to feel light headed) or straight after a heavy meal.
· Do let your practitioner know if you are completely new to acupuncture so they can take extra time to explain what happens and ensure you are comfortable with the process.
· If you take medications please bring a list of these.
This initial session is longer than a follow up acupuncture session (up to 90 minutes vs 1 hour for a follow up) as we will take a complete medical history and ask lots of questions about your sleep, digestion, diet, stress levels, aches and pains, hormones etc.
We will palpate various areas of the body to include your abdomen, legs and arms. We will spend some time taking your pulse and look at your tongue. These are all important diagnostic tools from a Chinese Medicine point of view and help to provide us with a holistic view of your health.
For example, we look at the size and shape, colour of the tongue, whether it is swollen or thin, the absence or presence of a coating. If present, the colour and thickness of the coating is indicative of different conditions affecting the body. In addition to this, different segments of the tongue relate to different organs of the body.
The amount of treatments needed varies from person to person but I recommend an initial commitment of 6 weekly sessions to start with. At each session, we will review your progress and you can expect that as your symptoms improve, the frequency of treatments will decrease. However, many conditions have taken time to develop so it goes hand in hand that healing will also take some time and it is impacted by other factors such as your lifestyle, diet and stress levels as well as how long you have had your condition.
As part of your treatment plan, you will be recommended some diet and lifestyle modifications as well as some stress management techniques tailored to your needs to manage your health and issues.
To get the best out of your treatment, we recommend that you do not plan anything too strenuous or stressful so that your body can continue to be in the rest and digest mode and make the changes it needs to. Rest as much as you can and avoid vigorous exercise if possible.
If you are exercising, only exercise moderately.
Similar to after a massage, it is helpful to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol as it can lower your tolerance. Also avoid greasy, heavy, and processed foods after your treatment.