Where Do You See Patients at First?

Acupuncture is various

It is no exaggeration to say that there are as many ways of doing acupuncture as the number of acupuncturists. This diversity is, for better or worse, the individuality of acupuncture.

The good part is that it is sometimes possible to treat symptoms not treated by the standard treatment (insurance-covered treatment). The bad part is that there is no unified opinion on what is best, so patients have to make their own decisions. Since few people have the time to compare various options, they have to choose based on their gut feeling that “this might be the right place.”

What to look for first

As an acupuncturist, I will explain where an acupuncturist’s individuality is expressed. What I will cover here is what acupuncturists look at first. What they see when they meet the patient shows their individuality.

For example, looking at the posture, facial color, pulse, overall impression, etc. The human brain is not a panacea, so it prioritizes the information it receives in the areas it focuses on. I can converse with a friend in a crowded place because I pick up my friend’s voice first and process everything else as noise.

I am no exception, and since I cannot process all information equally, I deliberately decide where to focus my attention. My story aside, it is a clue to choosing an acupuncturist that where an acupuncturist firstly focuses their attention determines the individuality of the acupuncturist.

Does the explanation make sense to you?

When you have acupuncture treatment, please pay attention to what they check first. Or you can ask them directly. “How is my body condition?”

Whatever the answer, they are promising if it comes back smoothly. However, if you don’t understand what they are saying, you may not understand afterward, so an acupuncturist with clear and understandable explanations is the right choice.

Do not treat without any particular reason

These statements are boomerangs, so they also come back to me. When a patient asks me, “How is my body condition?” I should answer immediately. In order to do so, it is necessary to have an established point of view when looking at the body and to be prepared to interpret it easily and smoothly. It isn’t easy to simply increase knowledge. We need to improve our ability to organize information.

In my daily clinical practice, I try to avoid creating “just a feeling.” Also, when I select acupuncture points. I try not to choose acupuncture points without any particular reason. If I have a rationale for selecting acupuncture points, I can prepare a clear answer when I am asked about it. In doing so, I try to choose words that are easy to understand because it is difficult to understand if I use technical terms.