Congrats to you! You have booked your very first Acupuncture consultation & treatment! This moment starts the journey to acheive the goal you are setting with treatment. This could be reliefe from physical pain, insomnia, emotional imbalance or even the aim of reporductine or digestive harmony. Whatever your goal may be these 3 simple steps will help you get the most out of your first visit.
1. Breathe, trust that you have made the right choice to support yourself because you absolutley have! Keep an open mind and understand that there are no quick fixes. Acupuncture is a deep and slow medicine that utilizes your body's own tools to rebalance and heal.
Acupuncture is best utilized with consistency of treatments and commitment to shifting lifestyle habits as needed. We will go over your health history, discuss your goals and make sure everything aligns with you prior to begining treatment treatment.
2. Get Cozy! We suggest loose fitting, breathable clothing that allows your practitioner to access the areas you are wanting to focus on and (in general) the areas from the elbows to fingers and knees to the toes. The way that Acupuncture is effective is when the patient can truly switch into the parasympathetic nervous system (Rest & Digest). Comfortable shoes that are easily taken on and off are best as we often use points on the feet and/or warm infrared light on the feet in each visit.
It's easiest to obtain that level of calm when you are comfortably dressed, solidly understand your treatment plan and have established trust your practitioner.
3. Gather your questions and don't be afraid to ask them! We are thrilled to hear what you have to say, listen to exactly how you feel in your body and answer any questions you have no list is too long or too short. It's never a bother, in fact there are so many details (every treatment plan is tailored to each patient specifically) that if you need a refresher or something is unclear it is a great time to make sure you are completely comfortable with your plan of care.
A common 1st question is "does this hurt?" We promise the needling is not like getting a flu shot or blood draw. The feeling is much less of a pinch and the sensation dissipates very quickly. We often check in with you during this process and typically hear that it's hard to feel anything at all!
We hope this helps ease any uncertainty! After the first session you will feel more confident in what to expect and as changes arise and questions form there is time built into every appointment to focus on that. We look forward to seeing you in clinic!
Emily Fillicetti
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