Dos and Don’ts for Acupuncture Treatment

Success with acupuncture therapy is not a foregone conclusion. Below are the things I advise my acupuncture patients to DO or NOT DO to maximize the benefits of acupuncture treatment.

DO…

• Have something in your stomach during treatment

• Inform the acupuncturist if you have consumed alcohol, tobacco or caffeine (since these substances modify your diagnostic signs)

• Wear loose clothing whenever possible

• Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment and avoid the rush

• Urinate before your appointment and before entering the treatment room

• Be prepared to complete the paperwork

• Be prepared to be in the clinic for at least 1 hour, with you on the table for a minimum of 30 minutes of needle retention time.

• Try to relax as much as possible during the treatment

• Turn off your cell phone during treatment

• Stop smoking cigarettes as they are working against your ability to heal

• Call with 24 hours notice of cancellation or change of schedule

• Think of realistic goals to set for the acupuncture course (would consider a 50% improvement in pain / symptom level and / or a 50% improvement in function level as “realistic” for a 6 to 10 course treatments)

• Pay close attention to:

-If and / or how your pain / symptom has changed (decreased or increased)

-How long did your pain / symptom change

-If the pain has moved, changed in quality or frequency

-If you had no change, mild, medium, good or great relief or increased pain

NO …

• Expect to multitask during your treatment

• Moving parts of the body with needles in them

• Arrive on an empty stomach or immediately after a large meal

• Push yourself too hard (physically, mentally, or emotionally) after treatment

• Consume alcohol (or other toxic substances) on the day of your treatment

• Doing movements, taking actions, or participating in activities that will exacerbate your pain throughout the course of treatment.

• Swim or bathe for 1 hour after acupuncture treatment

Many of these suggestions are designed to keep you safe during and after acupuncture treatment. An example would be swimming or bathing after acupuncture. Why not take a dip in a public pool within an hour of your treatment? We just put a bunch of microscopic holes in your skin! We are trying to prevent an infection from occurring.

Some suggestions allow the doctor to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. If you drink a cup of coffee just before an acupuncture treatment, you are likely to get your tongue and tongue coating a different color than it would otherwise be. This could rule out the acupuncturist’s diagnosis. Most likely, your heart rate will increase. Because we rely on tongue and pulse diagnostic techniques, it should be clear why we want you to avoid it just before your treatment. Also, caffeine increases cortisol activation and may increase the pain you feel when inserting the needle.