Your First Acupuncture Appointment: What to Expect

Don’t fret! We’re pretty chill here at Jing. Your guide to a calm, comfortable, and healing first session at Jing Acupuncture…

Introduction to your first acupuncture appointment

Trying acupuncture for the first time can bring up a lot of questions. Will it hurt? What actually happens during the session? What should I wear?! (I know the last one is often my main concern when going to any new appointment!) 

At Jing Acupuncture in Leamington Spa, I know how important it is to feel informed and comfortable—especially if you’re new to Five Element acupuncture or holistic therapies. This post will walk you through what to expect, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.

1. A Warm Welcome & Time to Talk

Your first appointment begins with a detailed consultation. I’ll take time to get to know you—not just your symptoms, but your lifestyle, health history, emotional wellbeing, and goals. As you’d expect, this conversation is completely confidential and you can share as much as you feel comfortable doing. In the business, we call this the ‘traditional diagnosis’ or TD - as it’ll help me decipher from a Chinese Medicine perspective, what’s going on with you and is designed to help me create a treatment plan tailored just for you. 

2. Diagnosis; Pulse, tongue and physical examination 

In Chinese Medicine, your body holds many clues about your inner state. I may look at your tongue and gently feel your pulses on both wrists. This helps me assess the balance of Qi (energy) flowing through your body and determine which of the Five Elements may need support. Depending on your symptoms, I might also perform a few physical tests to see what’s going on and with musculoskeletal conditions, might ask you to move the affected limb so we can benchmark where you are at the start of treatment. 

3. Your First Appointment Treatment

Once we’ve talked through everything, we’ll begin your acupuncture treatment. Generally, I’ll ask you to lay on a treatment couch and only remove clothing to access the areas of the body for treatment which might be your back, abdomen, arms or legs. I may also incorporate other therapies like:

• 🔥 Moxibustion (warming the skin with gentle herbal heat)

• 🌀 Cupping (amazing at releasing tension and improving circulation)

• 🧼 Gua Sha (gently scraping the skin surface to reduce inflammation and stagnation)

• 🤲 Tui Na Massage (Chinese therapeutic bodywork)

Needles are single use and sterile, extremely fine and most clients find them painless—or even relaxing. Some treatment might involve leaving the needles in place for 20-30 minutes, other times they simply go in and out with your breath. I’ll always let you know the plan before any treatment starts. 

4. Aftercare & What You Might Feel

After your treatment, we’ll talk briefly about what to expect. Some people feel energised, others sleepy or emotional. This is all part of your body rebalancing. I’ll give you suggestions for aftercare and let you know when to return for your next session.

5. How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Everyone’s healing journey is different. Some people feel better after just a couple of sessions; others may need regular treatments over several weeks or months. Generally, an initial course of five treatments which are regular (spread over five to seven weeks) is advised for new patients, as acupuncture has a cumulative effect and will give the treatment the best chance to make positive changes. During your initial consultation, I’ll offer honest guidance based on your needs and goals.

Final Thoughts

Your first acupuncture session is more than just needles—it's the beginning of a healing relationship between you, your body, and your practitioner. My goal at Jing Acupuncture is to create a space where you feel seen, supported, and empowered.

✨ Ready to Begin?

Take the first step toward balance and vitality! New client packages are available:

🌿 3 sessions for £150 | 5 sessions for £250 (Includes your full initial consultation)

📍 Clinics in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire & Eynsham, Oxfordshire 

 📞 07598 891020 📧 claudia@jingacu.co.uk