The Initial Consultation
For many problems, especially those of a chronic nature, your acupuncturist will want to discuss your medical history in depth to determine the root cause and to ascertain patterns of disharmony. Because of the length of the initial consultation, the first appointment often lasts an hour to an hour and a half. Subsequent appointments require less time spent discussing your unique condition so are shorter, generally lasting only an hour or less.

After obtaining a complete medical history, your acupuncturist will ask you to open your mouth and stick out your tongue! This often surprises first-time patients, but in Traditional Oriental Medicine, the observation of the tongue can provide valuable information about the internal workings of the body, such as the state of blood and qi, and the functioning of the organ systems, among other things.

After observing your tongue, your acupuncturist will want to feel your pulse on both wrists. In doing so, he or she is doing more than just checking beats per minute. While the rate of the pulse is one factor that an acupuncturist considers, there are many other considerations, including the rhythm, fullness and texture of the pulse. In fact, in Traditional Oriental Medicine, at least 28 different pulse types are recognized, with endless combinations of these. The pulse characteristics are felt at three positions on each wrist, with each position corresponding to an organ system within the body.

Time for Treatment
Once the acupuncturist has obtained all this information, it is time for treatment. Your acupuncturist will select the points most effective for your condition, possibly checking some of the points for tenderness prior to treatment. Acupuncture needles, unlike the needles used for drawing blood, are very fine and flexible. The sensation felt with needling is often described as a distending or achy sensation, a tingling or as very little sensation at all. People generally find acupuncture comfortable and relaxing, with some people even falling asleep on the treatment table!

Needles are not the only means of stimulating acupuncture points. Depending on the nature of your condition, the acupuncturist may use other methods. She may apply heat using moxibustion, use glass or plastic “cups” to apply suction to the points, use very mild electrical stimulation or may simply massage or tap the points. There are other techniques as well, but these are the most common. For anyone very uncomfortable with the idea of needles, other appropriate methods can be used to stimulate the points.

At the end of the treatment, your acupuncturist may send you home with little pressure seeds applied to points on your ear or may recommend dietary or lifestyle changes or specific exercises.

Course of Treatment
The number of treatments you require will depend on the nature of the condition being treated, with some problems resolved within a few treatments and others requiring more long-term care. Following the lifestyle and dietary changes recommended by your acupuncturist often minimizes the number of treatments required.

Many health insurance providers cover acupuncture treatments. Whether or not acupuncture is covered depends on the company and the individual health plan. Call your health insurance provider today and find out! Even if you are not covered, acupuncture may offer a means of feeling well again, and many acupuncturists offer discounts when multiple treatments are purchased at once.