What to expect at your first acupuncture session

If you have never had acupuncture before, a little uncertainty is completely normal. Knowing what happens takes most of that away, so here is exactly how a first visit at Gleamy Acupuncture Centre unfolds.

We start by listening. Before any needles come out, we take a full health history: what has brought you in, how long it has been going on, your sleep, your energy, your digestion, and anything else that paints a picture of your health. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the whole person, so these questions are not idle. They shape the treatment.

Next comes diagnosis. We look at your tongue and feel the pulse at both wrists. To a trained practitioner these carry a surprising amount of information about where your body is out of balance. From that we form a pattern, and from the pattern we choose the points to treat.

The treatment itself is gentle. The needles are far finer than the ones used for injections, and most people feel little more than a light tap, if anything at all. Once the needles are in, you rest for around twenty to thirty minutes. Many clients find this the most relaxing part of their week and some drift off to sleep.

Afterwards you might feel calm, a little tired, or pleasantly light. We will talk through what we found, give you clear aftercare, and suggest a realistic plan rather than an open-ended course of visits. If you have any questions before you book, call us on 09 826 4561 and we will happily talk them through.