What happens in a consultation?
When you come for the first time I will take a complete case history. This involves talking with you about your particular reason for coming and I will be asking you various questions in order to find out more about the specific nature of the problem. I will ask you questions like “when does it get better or worse?” (for example a certain digestive problem may be better for movement, like when you go for a walk, when you are relaxed and care free. However it might get worse if you sit still, feel frustrated and tense and eat certain foods).
Other questions may be about the exact location, frequency, quality etc.
However, Chinese Medicine is about finding out the “root of the problem”. Thus great care is taken to find out about many other aspects of your being as well. This ranges from any other physical signs and symptoms (even if this may seem completely unrelated) to your emotional, mental and spiritual life as well as environmental factors, occupational situation etc.
This allows me to completely ‘tailor-make’ the herbal prescription for YOU rather than for the illness. Thus, for example, 10 people presenting with asthma may be treated with 10 different prescriptions. In order to find out even more about you I will ask you questions, look at your posture, your facial complexion and your tongue.
Also I will palpate/examine your pulse, your abdomen your back and some important acupuncture points and channels. This allows for a very direct way of understanding or ‘grasping’ your condition
This will also help you to make truly sense of what is going on for you and possible interrelationships between your ‘dis-ease’ and your body, emotions, mental state, environmental factors etc.
Motivated by this insight, it will be much easier for you to put certain recommendations (if relevant) on lifestyle, diet and exercise into practice.
If appropriate I will teach you specific ‘Qi Gong’ movements (Chinese health exercises to effect specific organs and meridians).
Who can have treatment?
Chinese medicine can be used by people of any age or constitution. I will take any previous or current illness or medication into account before providing treatment. With suitable adjustments for dosage and with some provisos , children and pregnant women can very well be treated by Chinese medicine.
Chinese Medicine