What does an acupuncturist do?
In
addition to asking questions, the acupuncturist may want to
take your pulse at several points along the wrist and look at
your tongue to observe its shape, color, and coating. He or
she may also observe the color and texture of your skin, your
posture, and other physical characteristics that offer clues
to your health. The acupuncturist then asks you to lie down
on a padded examining table, and he or she inserts the needles,
twirling or gently jiggling each as it goes in. You may not
feel the needles at all, or you may feel a twitch or a quick
twinge of pain that subsides as soon as the needle is completely
in. Once the needles are all in place,
you rest for 30 minutes to an hour. During this time,
you'll probably feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off.
At the end of the session, the acupuncturist quickly and painlessly
removes the needles.
For certain conditions, acupuncture
is more effective when the needles are heated using a technique
known as "moxibustion."
The acupuncturist lights a small bunch of the dried herb moxa
(mugwort) and holds it above the needles. The herb, which burns
slowly and gives off a little smoke and a pleasant, incense-like
smell, never directly touches the body. Another variation is
electrical acupuncture. This technique consists of hooking
up electrical wires to the needles and running a weak current
through them, which may cause no sensation at all or a mild
tingling. Acupuncturists trained in Chinese herbal preparations
may also prescribe herbs along with acupuncture.
