Acupuncture Session with Ramon Padron Therapy - Natural Medicine - Dr Ramon

Here’s what to expect from a session: Treatment with acupuncture

A visit to an acupuncturist often involves a combination of traditional Chinese therapies and modern medicine. Practitioners come from a range of backgrounds, which affects their treatment strategy.  Furthermore, no two patients are alike; a – person undergoing acupuncture has a particular set of ailments and motives for doing so.
However, there are certain things you can count on during an acupuncture session.

Before treatment with acupuncture

Before your first acupuncture session there are several things you should bear in mind:


• A lot of acupuncture points widely used are located on your back, the lower arms and legs, so it is helpful to wear clothing that allows easy access to these areas
• try not to go for treatment on an empty stomach or straight after a heavy meal
• Let me know if you are completely new to acupuncture so I can take extra time to explain what happens and ensure you are comfortable with the process.

Your first appointment

During your first visit, I will gain a thorough understanding of your main complaint and your general health and lifestyle. This involves asking questions about your current symptoms and your medical history, as well as such things as your sleeping pattern, your appetite and digestion, and your emotional wellbeing. Women are also asked about their menstrual cycle and any past pregnancies and childbirth.
You might feel that some questions appear unrelated to your condition but the information you give helps me to form a more complete picture of your health and lifestyle. I will also take your pulse on both wrists and may examine your tongue and feel for areas of muscular tension or pain.

Your main cause of pain

When talking about your main pain, I might ask you to describe in your own words what the symptoms feel like and how severe they are. You may also be asked how long you have been having the symptoms, whether they are constant or intermittent and how frequent they are. You should mention any medication that you are taking and whether you have tried any other therapies.
In order to make a diagnosis according to traditional Chinese medicine theory and to find the right treatment approach, I will also want to know more specific details.

Treatment plan

Based on all the information you have given, I will make a diagnosis and put together your treatment plan, which may include lifestyle and dietary advice as well as acupuncture. I will use very fine single-use pre-sterilised needles to stimulate specific acupuncture points on your body. Because energy meridians range across the whole body, the points used are not necessarily close to where you experience pain or discomfort. For example, if you suffer from headaches needles might be inserted into your foot or hand.

Techniques

As well as needling acupuncture points, as a traditional acupuncturist, I may use other Chinese medicine techniques such as:
• moxibustion: heat is applied to an acupuncture point or meridian using moxa (a therapeutic herb) and/or heat lamps to warm and relax muscles and qi
• tuina: Chinese therapeutic massage relieves muscle tension, stimulates acupressure points, opens energy meridians and stimulate the flow of qi
• cupping: glass cups with a vacuum seal are placed on the skin to stimulate blood flow and clear stagnant qi
• guasha: vigorous rubbing of the skin increases blood flow and clears stagnant qi.

Lifestyle advice

I am likely to suggest ways in which you can enhance the long-term effects of your treatment. This may involve making changes to your diet and daily routine. If necessary you will be referred to other healthcare practitioners for specialist care.

After-effects

Most people find acupuncture relaxing and often feel very calm after a treatment. Some people experience an improvement right away and for others, it can take several treatments before noticing a positive change. Lastly, others feel energized and ready for anything
Acupuncture has very few side effects and any that do occur are usually mild and self-correcting. Cupping and guasha can sometimes temporarily mark the skin. Such bruising is painless and generally clears within a day or two.
In terms of results, it’s nearly impossible to say what one should expect, as everyone responds to and experiences acupuncture differently. There is no universal response to acupuncture

Important Considerations

You may feel a little tired or sleepy and should take this into account if you are planning to drive or use heavy machinery straight after your treatment.
You should refrain from vigorous exercise after treatment and, ideally, give yourself a little time to rest. It is also advisable not to drink alcohol for several hours after treatment.

What happens during a session?

An acupuncture session to last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, though most of this time may be spent discussing your symptoms and concerns with me sans needles. The actual treatment portion of acupuncture may last around 30 minutes, though you don’t necessarily have needles in your skin for that long!
An Electroacupuncture session might look like this:
• After evaluated your symptoms I will select acupuncture points for treatment.
• Next, I’ll insert a needle at the treatment acupuncture point and another needle nearby.
• Once the needles are inserted to the correct depth, I will use electrodes to connect the needles to a special electroacupuncture machine.
• After the electrodes are attached, I’ll turn on the machine. Electroacupuncture machines have adjustable current and voltage settings. Low voltages and frequencies will be used at first, though I may adjust the frequency and voltage of the current during treatment.
• The electric current pulsates, alternating between the two needles.
A typical session might last between 10 and 20 minutes, which is less than the average acupuncture session. The electrical current used in electroacupuncture has no direct effect on you. While you may experience some tingling or vibration, you should not experience any pain during the treatment, other than a quick prick when the needle is inserted. Many people say they don’t feel any pain, even when needles are inserted.

Can it cause any side effects?

As with standard acupuncture, electroacupuncture can cause a few side effects for certain people.
These might include:
• mild nausea
• dizziness, feeling faint or fainting
• pain or light bleeding when the needle is inserted
• redness or bruising at the needle site
• infection at the needle site, though this is rare when single-use sterile needles are used
If the tingling or vibration of the electric current causes discomfort, tell your acupuncturist right away. If the voltage is too strong, the sensation could become unpleasant. Electric shock is possible, but it’s rare if your acupuncturist is trained and the machine is working properly.

Are there any risks?

Electroacupuncture is generally very safe if it is done by a skilled practitioner. However, if it isn’t performed correctly, electroacupuncture can cause internal injuries or even electric shock.
In addition, you shouldn’t try electroacupuncture if you:
• are pregnant
• have heart disease
• have had a stroke
• have a pacemaker
• have epilepsy
• experience seizures
It’s generally recommended to talk to your doctor before trying a new treatment, especially if you have any underlying health issues.

Scroll to Top