What Should I Expect from My First Acupuncture Visit?
Your first visit with Greg will begin with assessing your medical history and any current ailments you are dealing with. If you’ve never visited Greg before, this could take an additional 15 to 30 minutes beyond the typical scope of an acupuncture appointment.
After reviewing everything with you, Greg will palpate different acupuncture points on your body to better understand what’s going on and identify the cause(s) of your symptoms.
Taking all of this information into account, Greg will begin inserting the needles in specific acupuncture points on your body. The entire visit might take about 90 minutes, but future visits will only require an hour or less.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you might need upwards of 10 sessions or more. The good news is that you should start seeing noticeable improvements within your first couple of visits!
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
It’s true, acupuncture can seem quite intimidating. The thought of all those needles being stuck in your body doesn’t create an inviting image in your mind. Fortunately, acupuncture looks much more painful than it actually is. In fact, some people say they don’t even feel the needles at all.
Unlike hypodermic needles, the needles you are used to seeing when you get shots, acupuncture needles are solid and not much thicker than a strand of hair. Acupuncture needles are typically inserted at shallow levels – usually around half an inch to an inch deep – which further reduces pain compared to what you might be expecting.
Most people can feel the needles being inserted but experience little to no irritation. Some people even feel sensations of excitement or relaxation.
What are the Benefits of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture stimulates the body’s peripheral nervous system to promote natural healing from conditions such as:
- Muscle and joint injury
- Hormone imbalances
- Migraines
It can also help by:
- Boosting the immune system
- Improving sleep
- Reducing certain allergy symptoms
If you haven’t tried it before, there are several reasons to give acupuncture a shot:
- It’s completely safe
- When done correctly, there are virtually no side effects
- It is an effective alternative for treating pain for those who do not want to take pain medications
- It allows your body to heal the actual cause of the ailment – not simply mask the symptoms as many medications do
These are just a few of the reasons that our clients tell us they are pleased to have chosen acupuncture.
