9 Ways to Help Your Acupuncturist
Study Your Poop
I know, I know. Out of all the things there are to study in this world, bowel movements are probably not the first thing on your list. In both Chinese and Western medicine, your poop gives your practitioner critical information about the state of your internal health. Things like consistency, color, smell, and even how many bowel movements a day you are having are all helpful markers. Next time you go, take a mental note and be sure to share it with your acupuncturist. Not only have we heard it all before, but we want (and need) to know! This information helps us choose acupuncture points, create an individualize herbal formula and make referrals to other medical professionals when necessary.
Check out the Bristol Stool Chart for more ideas on what exactly to look for in your poop.
Expand Your Vocabulary
Did you know we treat “dull” pain differently than “stabbing” pain?
When it comes to describing pain, it can be hard to think of words besides “painful” or “hurts”. Getting specific with your vocabulary on the quality of pain you are experiencing is crucial to helping your practitioner create an effective treatment plan. Before your next treatment, spend some time checking in with your body and notice what exactly the pain is like.
Some vocabulary ideas are:
Aching, cramping, heavy, dull, hot, burning, sharp, shooting, sickening, stabbing, tender, throbbing, tiring, exhausting.
Be honest
We aren’t here to shame you. This is your health journey and we are honored to be apart of it. If you are given a recommendation and you didn’t follow through, let us know! We can work through the barriers together and help to modify treatment plans as needed. Being truthful in your medical intake forms is also appreciated. If you don’t eat salads every day, then don’t say that you do. You might be surprised that things like salad may not be recommended from a Chinese medicine perspective. In order to get the true picture of health, sharing your current state and habits is key. Let’s work together!
Take Your Herbs
If you received an herbal protocol as apart of your treatment plan, its crucial to follow that protocol as recommended. Herbal medicine is typically more gentle than pharmaceuticals and is usually recommended in more frequent doses. This can feel unusual for many who are use to simply taking one pharmaceutical pill per day. Not to worry! Your practitioner is trained to know the therapeutic dosage of herbs.
We understand life happens. If you miss a dose, don’t sweat it! Just carry on the next day. If you find yourself only taking your herbs every few days, its unlikely you will notice a change. To give your herbal formula a chance at having a physiological benefit, follow your dosing recommendation. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you hit a road block! We have many tips for taking herbal formulas. Now, if you take your formula and feel something that wasn’t there before, such as nausea, stomach pain or headache, stop taking the herbal formula and let us know as soon as possible.
Update Us
On a new pharmaceutical? Change the dosing of a medication? Discontinue medication? Become pregnant? Trying to get pregnant? Receive a diagnosis from a doctor? Please keep us in the loop! Yes we are practitioners of Chinese medicine, however big changes in health vastly affect our treatment plans. Withholding this information could potentially be dangerous.
Wear Loose Clothing
When you come in for an acupuncture treatment, be sure to wear clothing that can easily be rolled up to at least your knees and elbows without cutting off your circulation. Yoga pants and skinny jeans limit the points we are able to access in the treatment. We understand that you may be coming from work, or forgot to change into your acu-pants, which is why we have hospital gowns you may change into if needed.
Don’t Scrape Your Tongue
In some traditions such as Ayurveda, scraping your tongue is encouraged. However in Chinese medicine, the tongue is a diagnostic tool your practitioner uses to get an overall picture of your health. This helps us choose acupuncture points and herbal medicine that is unique to you. Scraping removes the coating from your tongue, which is indicative of a number of diagnostic markers. Next time you come in for a treatment, skip the tongue scraping that morning.
Skip the Substances
Caffeine, alcohol and cannabis all affect the state of your pulse, which is a Chinese diagnostic marker that helps us create your treatment plan. It gives us an “artificial” pulse, because your pulse is now influenced by something from the outside, rather than what is actually going on in the body. These substances can also make you more or less sensitive to the acupuncture needles. On the day of your treatment, let the acupuncture do the work so you can truly take note of its effects.
Take Note
If you’re seeking treatment for a pain related condition, its important to take note of the sensations in your body after your treatments. One way to do this is to write down your pain scale (1-10) daily and report back to us in your next treatment. Also take note of the quality of pain, such as sharp, dull, achey etc. Note if anything has changed in between your appointments. This helps us adjust treatments accordingly.