Aftercare Following an Acupuncture Appointment

If you’ve never had acupuncture treatment before, you might be a little nervous and the lead-up to your first acupuncture appointment can be a bit nerve-racking. Luckily after the appointment, you’ll likely feel refreshed, restored, or maybe even back to your own self. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s so easy to get up and moving again. , Post-appointment, it’s important to tune into your body and pay attention to its wants and needs.

Even if your body isn’t giving off any signals toward what it wants, don’t underestimate the importance of acupuncture aftercare. The procedure itself doesn’t have to be the only refreshing, revitalizing aspect. With proper aftercare, you’ll be able to experience the full benefits of what acupuncture has to offer. Acupuncture has an amazing way of strengthening the connection between mind and body. So immediately after a treatment, we are in a unique position to take more advantage of this increased connection. For most of us this means we are able to connect more with the wisdom of the body. In general this is something that is lacking in modern western culture.

So after a treatment, we want to tune into the body and take care of it. This means that we should do what our body wants after a treatment, not what our minds want. If you feel tired, take a nap, or go to bed early, even if it’s “too early to go to bed”. If you feel energized and want to move or exercise, that’s great too. But avoid doing what your mind says you “should” do. Like: “I really should go to the gym, or I really should get this work done.” Forget that. If you are feeling tired, are those things really true? Maybe a nap would be a better idea. And then go to the gym or do that work when you feel refreshed after the nap or the next morning.

It is very common that people feel tired after acupuncture treatment. This is often because deep down people are truly tired, it’s just being masked by stress hormones and caffeine. When we have an acupuncture treatment, all the stress and cortisol coursing through us from modern life gets washed away, revealing the true nature of the body. This can be hard for people that are used to being constantly on the go and “wired”. But this is exactly what the body needs to heal itself and be more balanced. And after a treatment, we are in a unique position to get that rest that might otherwise have been elusive before because of the stress and mind-racing anxiety.

Another thing to note about the time following an acupuncture treatment is that it’s a great

The following guidelines will help you receive proper care following an acupuncture appointment:

1. Take it easy and rest

It may be that the most natural thing for your body to do following your acupuncture session is just to rest. There’s nothing wrong with this! After building up adrenaline and cortisol in our stressful modern lives, an acupuncture treatment has a way of wiping all this away. This often reveals a fatigued and depleted body that is yearning for rest, but has been too overstimulated to actually get it. Take advantage of this time and rest.The time following a treatment is a uniquely connected time where mind and body are much more in harmony than before. This is a great time to tune more into the body, since it is so often neglected in our modern lives.

Rushing things or bounding right into high-energy activities may only serve to put undue stress on you and cause complications after your appointment. If you need to, don’t be afraid to take a day for yourself. After a healing procedure, what better way to make sure you’re taken care of than a day of pampering? You’ve come this far in order to benefit your body, why not make sure that the job’s done to the full extent of its potential? Resting will allow the full benefits of the acupuncture procedure to take effect.

2. Drink herbal tea

Following an appointment at my San Francisco acupuncture clinic, I always make my clients a cup of herbal tea using Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredients. Depending on the type, herbal teas can often jump start our brains or relax us even further, allowing the benefits of the procedure to take effect to their full potential. Teas can provide nourishment and flush our bodies of toxins. For instance, depending on how you feel, a tea could relax you, or clarify your mind, and even bring peace to your soul.

Even if you haven’t recently had an appointment, drinking herbal tea can aid you in any number of ailments. Teas can provide you with a high amount of antioxidants, can help cure your insomnia, can provide relief from the flu and common cold, and can even help you fight cancer and improve your heart!

3. Stay hydrated

Water is one of the most important substances we can consume as humans, and the sad fact is most of us don’t drink enough. Just like massage, after an appointment, it’s important to focus on drinking as much good-quality water as you possibly can in order to flush your body of the toxins that the procedure releases.

Water can also improve your mental state and clarity, and keep you from feeling hungry. Dehydration contributes to several mood complications and disorders, and drinking a cup of water is often enough to refresh you if you’re feeling tired. You’ll want to make sure your body and muscles are hydrated after your acupuncture appointment, since this will help your body replenish and balance.

4. Pay attention to your emotions

Be aware that following acupuncture we can feel a bit more emotional or more raw and fragile. This is totally normal and is part of the process. Be kind to yourself and allow any emotions to come up and be fully felt and experienced and then released. Acupuncture is a unique experience, and while the benefits are numerous, everyone reacts differently post-appointment.

Just because it’s a physical procedure doesn’t mean that it can’t put your mind through the ringer as well. It’s completely normal to feel raw, or fragile, or any number of emotions that may overwhelm you after such a procedure. Take some time to check in with your brain and emotional body and figure out how you’re doing. As always, don’t hesitate to give your mental health what it needs to refresh itself. If you need to take it easy, take it easy! Whatever you’re feeling, be sure to honor it in the best way you can.

5. Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Acupuncture is meant to be a physically healing procedure and it can also release many emotions that have been locked in the body. Following an acupuncture appointment, your body and emotions both need to be taken care of, which means you’re better off avoiding coffee and cocktails. Both alcohol and caffeine are substances that have numerous intense effects on our systems and will interfere with the benefits of your acupuncture procedure.

Instead of planning a night out following an acupuncture appointment, try to go to bed early that night. Try to refrain from alcohol, caffeine, and other intoxicants after as well. Above all be kind and gentle to yourself… and stay hydrated!

Aftercare following an acupuncture appointment is generally a time of greater connection and communication between mind and body. It’s a great time to tune further into the body and give the body what it’s asking for. This might be a nap, or it might be exercise, or food, for example. Do what your body feels like in the moment, unapologetically. Don’t do what you mental mind says you “should” do, like I should go to the gym right now, or I should get this work finished or whatever. Appreciate being in your body as much as possible.

It’s important to remember that your acupuncture appointment isn’t the only vital thing you’re doing for your body that day: aftercare is crucial to ensure that the procedure takes proper effect and that your body reacts in a way that’s positive for you. Remember to listen to what your mind is telling you first and foremost, and make sure you stay hydrated and flush out the toxins in your body. When it comes to self-care, there are several different routes you can take, but the importance of it can’t be overstated.

Have any other thoughts, questions, or ideas? Please feel free to contact me or to stop by my San Francisco acupuncture clinic; I’m happy to help.