Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on my first visit?
Prior to your first visit, you would have been emailed a form to complete. Please fill this out before you come.
During your first visit, we will listen to your story and ask questions about your lifestyle, diet and health. We’ll check your tongue and pulse and feel your abdomen.
These are all diagnostic techniques unique to Chinese medicine to help us treat you effectively. After this we’ll make you as comfortable as possible and start your acupuncture treatment. We use super gentle techniques, so you feel relaxed while in our care.
For bubs and children, the first consultation will involve a lot of questions for Mum and/or Dad. Then treatment will be given, which is very quick and gentle, lasting anywhere from a minute or two to five or so minutes. It really depends on their age. We may also use sticker pins which are also super gentle. Children respond very quickly and effectively to the treatment.
How long should I expect a course of treatment to be?
For adults, a course of treatment is roughly eight weeks, however, if it’s a gynaecological problem, we’ll want to see you for four menstrual cycles. And if it’s fertility, we typically see clients for six to twelve months.
It’s important for us to see you weekly in the beginning, so we can achieve the best results for you. After the first cycle of treatment is complete, there will be a discussion on future cycles, as they are often necessary for long-lasting results.
Still, we expect you will notice changes within one to two treatments, so you will know you are on track to improving your health.
For children, a course of treatment really varies. Your practitioner will let you know what to expect in the first appointment. It depends on so many things.
Side effects of acupuncture and needle shock
We are required to also make you aware of the possible side effects of acupuncture:
Side effects are rare. Clients may occasionally experience slight bruising at the point of needle insertion.
Another rare side effect is called “Needle Shock”. This is a feeling of faintness, chilliness and perhaps slight nausea. It rarely happens, but when it does, it’s most likely to be in situations when the client is very nervous about needles, extremely exhausted or fatigued, or is experiencing low blood sugar from not having eaten for a long period of time before the acupuncture treatment.
Here at Red Tent, we use the best needles and gentle techniques so even needle-phobic clients can receive treatment with ease. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Video links about acupuncture that may interest you
A cardiologist speaks about acupuncture for atrial fibrillation and whether it works or not? He also discusses the issues with research into the field.
Johns Hopkins Medicine USA, Q&A on acupuncture
How Acupuncture Improves Fertility & Hormone Health | Dr. Andrew Huberman – acupuncture is no longer considered fringe science and there’s evidence to show how it can help with male and female infertility.
Documentary on Acupuncture by the British Medical Council: To the Point
A functional MRI study on acupuncture – Dr. Vitaly Napadow, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and the Martinos Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Director of the Center for Integrative Pain NeuroImaging (CiPNI) and co-President of the Society for Acupuncture Research, presents his acupuncture neuroimaging research at the 2017 annual meeting of the Association of Professional Acupuncture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Deconstructing the Legitimisation of Acupuncture: How Science Helped Move Acupuncture to Mainstream. Rick Harris, PhD Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Medicine Director, Pain and Fatigue Neuroimaging University of Michigan
A paediatrician and acupuncturist explains Chinese medicine: Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine by David Miller MD, LAc