First Treatment

The first treatment is about 90+ minutes long.  If you haven’t completed the necessary intake forms I will ask you to do that, including the Health History Form, and the Consent To Treat form.  Then we will discuss your health concern(s) that motivated you to come to FireLight Acupuncture, and Ian may ask you other questions about your current and past health conditions, including questions that may seem irrelevant to your primary concerns.  East Asian medicine has a holistic perspective on health and healing. All Ian’s questions will be pertinent to some aspect of understanding your metabolic function, and what may or may not be impeding the progress of your body’s natural healing ability.  

After some discussion we will proceed to treatment.  Japanese style of acupuncture generally involves touch and palpation of the patient’s body.   However, Ian is very experienced in providing effective treatment without touching, palpating or treating areas of each patient’s body that the patient would prefer not to be touched or treated.  As every patient’s comfort, relaxation and ease is are key elements for effective treatment, each treatment begins with a discussion about the extent of touch and palpation each patient is comfortable with on that day of treatment.  Ian will continue to inquire about each patient’s ease and comfort as the treatment progresses and from one treatment to the next.  

 The common areas that Ian will likely seek to palpate and/or treat include but are not necessarily limited to the areas listed below:

• Your arms: from above the elbows down to the finger tips;

• Your legs: from above your knees down to your toes. 

• Your abdomen: from your hip bones to your ribs and sternum

• Your neck and head, 

• Various parts of your back, And

• Any areas that are your chief areas of pain and/or constraints on your mobility.   

A key aspect of the first and following treatments is consistent communication to build trust and understanding of the patient’s goals and levels of comfort and Ian’s intentions and methods.  

Ian likes to emphasize that while he is the acupuncture expert, he is not treating is own body. He is treating the patient’s body, so the patient is always in charge: of the goals, intentions and methods of each treatment

How to prepare for acupuncture:  

• In the days before and after treatment, pay attention to your body, it’s function/dysfunction, pain and reactivity.  A comparison of before and after is the best way to determine the efficacy of acupuncture treatment

• On the day of treatment, if possible wear loose comfortable clothing, drink enough fluids, eat at least a little during “normal” meal times prior to treatment.  If you are coming from work and are not dressed for comfort we can work it out when you arrive.  If possible reduce your consumption of sugar and/or caffeine in the couple of hours prior to treatment.  

• Try to arrive early so that your mind can arrive and settle with your body prior to treatment

• If possible allow for a little extra “slow” time after treatment prior to returning to your usual daily routine

The above suggestions are not essential but can easily magnify the benefits of acupuncture.