Traditional Chinese Medicine not only uses all of your subjective information (what you tell us about how you feel) and objective evidence (your appearance, lab results, physical examinations, etc.), but we use additional techniques that may seem funny at first. In a visit when I’m asking a new patient if I can draw a picture of their tongue, quite often I get a giggle and an “are you nuts?” glance (I love this by the way). That’s when I get my window to teach!
So, this is when I explain further. We need to look at your:
From these things and everything else we have heard and observed, an overall assessment of your health is made. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine has a very different way of giving a patient a diagnosis. You may have overheard your ND mumble something about ‘Spleen Qi deficiency’ or ‘Liver fire rising’ and think to yourself, “I’m pretty sure my liver isn’t on fire” but don’t take this literally. It is all part of the Eastern philosophy that we have been educated and trained in for multiple years in school.
So the diagnosis is made, you are all ready lying on the treatment table and waiting for these alleged acupuncture needles you have been hearing so much about. Let me put your mind at ease. The needles are extremely thin and they do not need to be inserted deeply in order to be effective. You may feel a slight prick (however many patients don’t feel anything at all) and after a moment or two you may feel a deep pressure in that particular spot. Some people describe the experience as energy moving throughout the body. Some start to feel very relaxed and even sleepy, and some may feel pleasantly warmer or cooler in temperature. It really depends on the person. Of course there are risks, complications and cautions to any treatment but your ND or acupuncturist should thoroughly address this with you. Overall, the acupuncture experience is a VERY relaxing and enjoyable one. It is definitely an experience worth trying and I highly recommend you visit your Naturopathic doctor to see if you are a good candidate for the treatment.
Remember to come back next week for Part 3 of the Series when I explain how you can tell your acupuncture treatments are working and who can benefit.
In health and happiness,
Dr. Kremblewski
