5 Reminders Before You Get Acupuncture in Brampton

You may have heard of acupuncture, but you are not sure how it works, or it is beneficial for you. But, your doctor may have encouraged you to give it a try. Acupuncture in Brampton is commonly used to treat pain, and it involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at specific points on your body. This may seem intimidating at first, but many people still use this approach to improve overall health. If you don’t understand how needles can alleviate it, here are the things you need to know to ease your stress. 

Things to remember before an appointment

1. The needles are not what you think.

When you hear about needles, you might be picturing hypodermic-sized needles like the ones used to draw blood or give shots. In reality, the needles used to administer acupuncture treatment are tinier. Needles come in gauges, and the higher they have, the smaller the needle. With a hypodermic needle, it ranges from 25 to 27 gauges, whereas an acupuncture needle is between 30 to 40 gauges. The depth of the needles also depends on where the body it is inserted. It has an average size of 3 and 5 millimeters, and most patients do not report pain when the needles are inserted due to their small size and shallow insertion.

2. Eat something before you go. 

If you don’t eat two hours before getting treatment, you may feel lightheaded. Your stomach doesn’t need to be full, but you need to eat something. If you don’t, you might feel lightheaded and sick during and after treatment. If you forget to eat, make sure to stop and grab a snack before going to your appointment. 

3. Don’t schedule anything after.

Part of acupuncture deals with making you feel relaxed. The body can only heal itself when it is not stressed up preparing for the next big thing you are going to do. You should not schedule an appointment when you have to run somewhere afterward. Being worried or anxious may lead to adverse side effects like nausea or lethargy. You may also feel tired after the treatment; that’s why it’s important to allow your body and mind to enjoy the experience and unwind.

4. Know the details of your medical history.

Acupuncturists make a detailed medical history. You need to know your family medical history, accidents, and traumas your body has sustained, broken bones, surgeries, or significant illnesses. You will also need to let your acupuncturist from Chiropractor Brampton know what medications you take. Don’t be surprised if you are asked about bodily functions like bowel movements and urination.

5. Avoid your morning latte. 

If you are used to drinking latte or six cups of coffee every day, then you should skip it on the day of your treatment. Caffeine is a stimulant and may cause your heart rate to increase and your breathing to quicken. Acupuncture is also meant to counteract this fight-or-flight type of body system; introducing caffeine may render the process. 

Acupuncture is a common alternative treatment for many types of conditions and illnesses nowadays. Doctors recommend these to patients that utilize them along with other treatment aids. Now that you know what to expect, you can have the courage to try acupuncture. Check this out to find an acupuncture clinic.