Acupuncture Clinic: What Do Acupuncturists Do?

Your first visit

On your first visit a detailed medical history is taken, followed by pulse diagnosis, physical examination, including the chest, abdomen, skin and tongue. The quality, rhythm and strength of your pulses will be checked, and the colour, structure and coating of your tongue will be noted. This information will allow acupuncturists to make a diagnosis and decide upon treatment.

Your practitioner will explain to you your condition and treatment schedule. During treatment the needles may be left in for 10 to 30 minutes depending on the desired effect and sometimes used with moxibustion, which is burning herbs (primarily Mugwort) near acupoints, to hasten healing. As the needle is inserted, one may experience sensation such as tingling or pins and needles, feeling numbness or nothing at all. Most find the sessions relaxing, and many fall asleep during or immediately after treatment.

The needles used are extremely fine. They are sterile, single use and made of high quality stainless steel.

Acupuncturist Diagnosis

The diagnostic process of Chinese Medicine involves four areas, known as the Four Examinations. These are:

• Observation of the patient's complexion, eyes, tongue, nails, gait (overall physical appearance), openness, and emotional demeanour.
• Listening and Smelling, the focus being on the sound of the voice and breathing, as well as any odours associated with the body, or breath.
• Questioning for information on present and past complaints including appetite, digestion, bowel movement, bladder, sweat, pain, patterns of sleep, family health history, work, living habits, physical environment, and emotional life.
• Palpation, or touching the body to determine temperature, moisture, pain or sensitivity, and the taking of the pulse. The Chinese method of pulse taking involves placing three fingers on each wrist to measure a total of 12 pulses, each associated with a corresponding meridian. Fourteen different pulse characteristics (slow, rapid, full, empty, etc.) are compared with each of the 12 pulses, and are used to determine which organ is not working properly.

Treatments

Treatments aim to adjust and restore the Yin/Yang balance, and may incorporate one or more therapies, including:

• Herbal Medicine
• Massage
• Exercise
• Diet