What to expect in a consultation
Questions will focus on your dietary habits, lifestyle, sleep and energy patterns and your main complaint.
We will look at your tongue, take your pulse and palpate problem areas of the body according to TCM diagnostic techniques. Please do not scrape/clean your tongue before your appointment. Your initial consultation will be longer than subsequent appointments.
Allow 75mins for your initial appointment.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of ultra-fine, sterile needles or pins into the skin/muscle at points carefully chosen for your complaint. The pins are left in place for anywhere from 5-45 minutes during which time you can relax.
Won’t it hurt?
Commonly the sensations reported include a sense of ‘heaviness, aching, numbness, tingling, unblocking, movement’.
When you let go of fear acupuncture is gently sedating and deeply relaxing.
Can children have treatment?
Yes. We can treat babies and young children, but the acupuncture pins are not left in place long at all. They are inserted, stimulated and quickly withdrawn. Most babies do not even realise they have had acupuncture.
We may follow this with massage techniques to stimulate the body areas into action or to soothe and relax them.
We regularly help anxious students relax and refocus to get through stressful periods more easily during the school year.
Should I expect any side effects?
With herbal medicine, most effects are intended. If you experience any undesirable effect please contact the clinic for reassurance and modifications if required.
After acupuncture, we ask you not to drive until you feel awake and alert. You might need five minutes transition. You are welcome to linger after your session, sit and have a sip of tea before facing the world again.
Is acupuncture safe during Pregnancy?
Yes, it’s safe. But we do have procedures we follow in early pregnancy so please let us know if you are pregnant or trying to fall pregnant.
What precautions should I take when considering having acupuncture?
We do not recommend you have acupuncture
- if you are absolutely terrified of the idea
- if you have a long history of fainting
- if you have a bleeding disorder
- if you are exhausted, very hungry or haven’t eaten for a long time
Please let us know if:
- you have been recently diagnosed with a disorder
- you may be in early stage pregnancy
- suffer from seizures
- have high or low blood pressure
- have a blood disease. Hep C, HIV
- you are taking blood thinning medication
How do I take Chinese herbal medicine?
At Reorient we use TGA approved granulated herb powders, pills and capsules that can be taken as a tea or with a small sip of water two to three times a day.
Let your practitioner know when you are taking any other medications.
Chinese herbs should be taken 2 hours away from any other medications. If you catch a cold/flu or gastro – STOP taking your herbal formula until the acute illness has passed. If you have any concerns, contact the clinic.
How often do you recommend I have treatment?
This will depend on the complaint type, duration, severity, age, lifestyle, medical history and initial response to treatment. While we do sometimes see resolution with 1 or 2 treatments, it is not generally a magic bullet. We advise a series of treatments based on our experience and your condition. This will be followed by a break of 2-4 weeks, then a review. Sometimes a second series is needed for effective and lasting resolution.
Frame your expectations around the following guide:
- Acute musculoskeletal injury 4-6 treatments, weekly
- Chronic musculoskeletal issues 8-15 treatments, weekly
- Digestive issues 8-12 treatments, weekly
- Menstrual or fertility problems 3-12 months treatment
- Health maintenance, every 4-8 weeks.
Adding herbal medicine support where appropriate can reduce the need for weekly physical treatments to fortnightly or more.
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