Preparing for your appointment

Thank you for booking an appointment. A little preparation beforehand helps your treatment go smoothly and, importantly, allows an accurate traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis. Please take a moment to read the guidance below before your visit.

On this page

1. Eating and drinking
2. Look after your tongue
3. What to wear
4. What to bring
5. Cupping and moxibustion marks
6. After your appointment
7. Finding the clinic

1. Eating and drinking

Have a light meal or snack one to two hours before your appointment. Please do not arrive on an empty stomach — being hungry during treatment can occasionally cause light-headedness or faintness. Equally, avoid arriving very full straight after a large meal.

Try to limit coffee and other caffeine on the day of your appointment, and avoid alcohol the day before. Caffeine, alcohol and vigorous exercise all alter the pulse, and pulse-taking on both wrists is one of the key diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine — you can read more about pulse diagnosis.

2. Look after your tongue

Examining the tongue is one of the most important diagnostic methods in Chinese medicine. The colour of the tongue body and the colour and thickness of its coating tell the practitioner a great deal about what is happening inside the body — see tongue diagnosis for more detail.

To keep your tongue readable, in the hours before your appointment please:

• Do not brush or scrape your tongue on the morning of your appointment — the natural coating is diagnostically important and should not be removed.
• Avoid anything that stains or discolours the tongue, including coffee, strong black tea, brightly coloured sweets or lollipops, beetroot, turmeric and curry, and artificially coloured drinks.
• Avoid smoking immediately before your appointment, as it temporarily discolours the tongue coating.

3. What to wear

If you're having acupuncture treatment, please wear loose, comfortable clothing. Many acupuncture points are located on the lower arms and lower legs, so it helps to wear clothing that can easily be rolled up above the elbows and above the knees. Loose trousers or a skirt are ideal; tight jeans, thick leggings and tight long sleeves are best avoided.

For some conditions, treatment points are on the abdomen or back. Towels and a treatment gown are available, and your comfort and modesty are always respected.

4. What to bring

To help me build the fullest possible picture of your health, please bring:

• A list of any medication and supplements you are currently taking.
• Any recent and relevant test results or scan reports — for example blood tests, and for fertility patients, hormone results, a semen analysis or ultrasound reports.
• A few notes on your main symptoms — when they began, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect your daily life.
• For menstrual or fertility concerns, the dates of your recent cycles or any tracking charts you keep.

5. Cupping and moxibustion marks

If your treatment includes cupping therapy, please be aware that it can leave temporary circular marks on the skin. These are not bruises and are not painful; they usually fade within a few days to a week. If you have an event where your back or shoulders will be on show, you may wish to bear this in mind when planning your appointment. Moxibustion produces a pleasant, warming sensation and does not mark the skin.

6. After your appointment

Most people feel calm and relaxed after treatment; some feel a little tired. It is sensible to rest where you can, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day. A short-lived change in your symptoms in the day or two afterwards is normal and is part of the body responding to treatment. If anything concerns you, please get in touch.

7. Finding the clinic

The clinic is at 49 Denmark Street, in the centre of Wokingham, Berkshire. The nearest parking is the pay and display car park opposite Wokingham Therapy Clinic, on Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire. Further directions and contact details are on the contact page. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please see our support pages on how to do this.

If you have any questions before your visit, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing you.