Initial Consultation
The first appointment will last between an hour and an hour and a half. A full medical history will be taken, and you will be asked about your current symptoms and other aspects of your general health, such as diet, digestion, energy level and sleeping patterns. Your pulse will be taken and the practitioner will look at your tongue; in traditional Chinese medicine the type of pulse and the colour and coating of the tongue are important diagnostic indicators.
Very fine needles are then inserted at a combination of specific points associated with the underlying pattern diagnosed by the practitioner; the patient may feel a tingling or warm sensation at the point of insertion or in a related part of the body. After about 20 minutes the needles are removed.
