While acupuncture is becoming more mainstream as a complimentary therapy to Western Medicine, many Brunswick Heads residents still don’t understand how to prepare for their first appointment. With a wide range of acupuncture Brunswick Heads techniques, there may be some differences in opinion between acupuncturists, but here is a quick overview of the most common preparation tips:
1. Carry a list of your current medications
As a precaution, it is always advisable to bring a list of the medications and supplements that you are currently using, especially if herbs are part of your treatment. This because there are certain drug-herb interactions that have detrimental effects on your body.
2. Eat
It is advisable to eat 2 hours before an acupuncture appointment in Brunswick Heads. You don’t want to show up very full or having eaten something spicy, heavy or friend. It is also recommended to go on an empty stomach because it can leave you feeling physically depleted or feeling lightheaded. It is important to be a little full than being distracted by hunger in the course of your appointment.
3. Wear Loose Clothing
When going for acupuncture, it is always recommended to wear loose clothing so that your acupuncturist can access the pain points that he or she wants to place the needles. It is even more critical when going for a community acupuncture appointment since the treatments are performed in a group. Even for private appointments, wearing loose clothing will make things easy for you and the acupuncturist.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before the appointment
Stay away from caffeine for at least 2 hours before your appointment. Considering that caffeine is a stimulant, it will increase your body’s fight-or-flight response, something that the treatment seeks to reduce.
Additionally, one of the greatest benefits of acupuncture is ability to help patients see more clearly. Well, this doesn’t mean that it increases vision (although some studies have proposed that it can improve vision), but it will help you see situations and your symptoms with a lot clarity. Alcohol does the opposite. It numbs you, which is not a good thing during acupuncture. Remember that the goal of any acupuncture treatment is to bring more awareness to how you feel. Impairing your senses with alcohol is not helpful.
Hopefully, you now know what to do to get the most of your next acupuncture Brunswick Heads appointment. Some of the highlighted tips and easy to forget. So, create a pre-acupuncture checklist that you can refer to a few days to your D-day or a few hours before your acupuncture appointment.