I can not tell you how many times I have walked into our intake room and heard a little sigh and a chuckle…
“ Oh Hello! I guess I was expecting someone else…you know more like Mr. Miyagi or something.” Apparently being female, white, with blue eyes has taken someone by surprise…again.
So many times new patients come into the office full of preconceived ideas around what acupuncture is and who performs it. It's not their fault…Hollywood has done an excellent job of setting that stage. A big part of our job is patient education and helping manage expectations.
- Generally, popping the bubble of who we are as practitioners is first. We come in all shapes, sizes, ages, genders and ethnicities.
- It is our training, knowledge and experience that shapes us into great Acupuncturists. Acupuncture training in the US is rigorous.
- It requires a minimum of a Master’s Degree.
- Academic hours are split between Acupuncture Theory, Clinic rotations, Western Biomedicine and Counseling/Ethics/Practice management to name a few.
- Most States (NC included) require one to pass three very difficult board exams before granting a license and allowing one to practice.
- After that, we must keep up to date with our continuing education requirements (40 hours every 2 years in NC) and license renewals (every 2 years).
- We stay up to date with all the latest research in our field.
- All this means…your acupuncturist is highly educated and trained!
- After helping our patients understand our educational backgrounds, managing expectations is next.
- Many people come in with the idea that acupuncture is mystical and magical and even…Miraculous! While yes,. I have seen some miraculous healing with Acupuncture…..
- It is generally a steady progression towards better health. It requires consistent acupuncture treatments along with patient engagement.
- Part of an acupuncturist's training is to see the areas of life where someone's health began to become unbalanced and help bring balance back with acupuncture and lifestyle changes.
- In fact, Acupuncture traditionally has never been a solo practice. Every Acupuncturist is taught the 5 Pillars of Chinese Medicine and as practitioners, we guide our patients back to health implementing each one of the Pillars.
To help folks understand the whole scope of what you can expect when coming in for Acupuncture, I’ll be doing a series to explain each Pillar in detail. My hope is to educate and inspire engagement with the full scope of the healing process. Engaging with the 5 pillars is what can speed up healing and make it last!
Coming Soon…
- Acupuncture! What is acupuncture’s basic theory and how does it work? Oh, and does it hurt?
- Herbal Medicine! Is it safe? And why is it important to take your herbal prescription as recommended?
- Body Work! What kinds of bodywork are incorporated when you see your Acupuncturist? Why it’s important to follow through with a referral out to a massage therapist when recommended.
- Dietary/ Lifestyle Changes!- Are you willing to give up the things that are derailing your health? Does my acupuncturist have training in dietary therapy and do I really need to follow my acupuncturist's advice?
- Exercise Therapy!- Learn why movement is so important. What sort of movement therapy is incorporated in Chinese Medicine? Where to start and how to follow through with your acupuncturist’s recommendations.
Questions? Call JJ to schedule a consultation or a follow-up treatment today!
910-262-1122 Ext 2