Clients should avoid strenuous exercise, caffeine, junk food, alcohol, cold temperatures, digital screens, and, where possible, stressful situations. What's more, if clients leave their appointment feeling lightheaded or dizzy, they should avoid driving until they feel better.
Avoid Strenuous Exercise
You may feel a boost of energy after your acupuncture treatment – this is one of its many benefits. However, be careful not to partake in strenuous activities after your treatment. If you perform intense exercises or heavy lifting, you may undo some of the benefits of treatment.
After your acupuncture session, your body releases toxins into your system. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out the toxins from your body. Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol after acupuncture because they can cause dehydration. Also, both coffee and alcohol cause your body to lose awareness.
Avoid scheduling your acupuncture appointment before or after something really strenuous. You don't need to be sedentary on either side of an appointment, but nor should you be going nuts at the gym or suffering through an extremely stressful meeting.
It's important that client's avoid unhealthy foods after their acupuncture appointment, as it may hinder their received benefits. This includes processed foods, fried foods, and refined sugar - if clients crave something sweet, antioxidant-rich fruits are a great option!
Acupuncture has a calming effect, so you may want to get a ride home from your appointments — especially the first one. If that's not possible, try to rest for five to 10 minutes before you drive. Your practitioner may suggest that you take it easy for a day or two after each session.
However hot showers are okay after acupuncture.
If anything, sensations of numbness or deep heaviness are usually positive signs that treatment is working. Some people feel a little pressure or aches upon insertion of the needles, but this should be mild. Granted, acupuncture may not be suitable for everyone.
Body parts where acupuncture needles get inserted can feel sore after needles are removed. Soreness from acupuncture typically dissipates within 24 hours. Although less common than soreness, bruising can occur at the needling site. These bruises usually don't hurt and last a few days after the treatment.
So, what else can you do after your acupuncture treatment to ensure that it is working as effectively as possible? It is very important for you to drink plenty of water. Your body can easily become dehydrated after an acupuncture treatment so you need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water.
After your session, you may feel tired for up to 3 days. During this time, your body is cleansing and eliminating the toxins and poisonous waste that builds up in the blood stream. Fatigue is part of the normal healing process, and can be a positive sign that acupuncture is working.
A small shift, or slowly scratching your nose is alright, but any bigger movement could be painful or could cause the needles to fall out.
Considered gentle exercises, these should be fine to perform after Acupuncture treatment: Gentle yoga. Walking. Stretching.
Generally speaking, six sessions is considered a course of treatment. However, some people will need fewer sessions, while others with a chronic condition will need more. For example, people suffering from pain or anxiety will typically notice a reduction in their symptoms after the first or second session.
So, what should clients not do before an acupuncture session? Your client should not consume heavy, spicy or fried meals, nor should they drink any caffeine or alcohol.
What to Expect After Treatment: In general, people tend to feel relaxed after an acupuncture treatment. And the days following might even mean better sleep, digestion, and an overall sense of well-being. But some patients report having a deeper, more intense effect in the days following a session.
According to the World Health Organization report on the efficacy of acupuncture, studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in inducing analgesia, protecting the body against infections and regulating various physiological functions.
Improving Circulation to Reduce Illness and Pain
This very important fluid helps transport nutrients as well as stimulates the lymphatic system. If you are not properly hydrated, this stimulation can be sluggish and result in fatigue or possibly feeling ill. Massage and acupuncture encourage circulation.
While being poked by needles may not be what you had in mind when you think about improving your sleep, studies show that acupuncture can decrease anxiety, stimulate melatonin production, induce sleep and reduce sleep disruption.
By applying needles to various acupoints, acupuncture activates your parasympathetic system, the part of your nervous system that encourages your body to rest and digest. Below is a list of the acupoints that provide relief for insomnia and other sleep-related issues.
Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture.
Some people feel okay during their sessions, but will begin to feel more sensitive or teary-eyes in the days following their session. We encourage you to offer yourself the gift of rest, stillness and alone time, to adequately process these feelings.