What to expect at your Geelong Chinese Medicine appointment

Your first visit

Your first appointment is 60 minutes. We’ll spend the first half getting a thorough picture of what’s going on — not just the main issue, but how you sleep, digest, manage stress, and how your energy is through the day. We’ll also look at your tongue and feel your pulse, which in Chinese medicine tell us a lot about what’s happening internally.

The second half is treatment. Depending on what we find, that might be acupuncture, or we might prescribe herbs from our dispensary, or both.

It helps to bring a list of any medications or supplements you’re taking, and a brief timeline of how the current problem developed. If you’ve had investigations or imaging, bring those too.

What to wear

Wear comfortable, loose clothing that rolls up past your elbows and knees, or something easy to change out of. We’ll always make sure you’re comfortable and covered.

Follow-up visits

Follow-ups are usually 30 minutes, occasionally 45. We’ll check in on how things have responded since last time, reassess your tongue and pulse, and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

How long does treatment take to work?

It depends on how long the problem has been there and how complex it is. Acute issues like a stiff neck or a fresh cold often respond within a few treatments. Chronic or layered conditions — things like long-term fatigue, hormonal issues, or digestive problems — usually need a longer course of fortnightly or monthly visits to see meaningful, lasting change. In some cases a maintenance treatment every few months may be necessary to hold your gains.

We’ll be upfront with you about what we expect and how we’ll track progress. If something isn’t shifting, we’ll tell you.

Before your appointment

Come having eaten something light. Avoid coming on a completely empty stomach or straight after a large meal. No alcohol before treatment.

Questions

If anything comes up before, during, or after your appointment, ask. We’d rather you understand what we’re doing and why than sit there wondering.