Have you ever wondered what acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners are checking for? Why do acupuncturists look at your tongue, take your pulse, and how they come to their conclusions and reach a diagnosis? Read more if you’re interested in all of the things we check for and evaluate when you come in for an appointment. Just like Functional Medicine Doctors and other holistic medicine practitioners, we are evaluating every aspect of your health- not just solely the issue that inspired you to make an appointment.

1. Your metabolism & how well your body functions in warming itself.

   Are you tired all of the time, even after getting a good night of sleep? Do you feel heavy and groggy in the morning and struggle to get your day started? Are you cold all the time, even in the spring and summer months? Do you have cold hands and feet, and struggle to lose or gain weight? These are all important questions that we ask in order to figure out how well your metabolism is functioning. Having abundant energy (and certainly enough to get through the day) is a very clear sign of good health. Feeling fatigued all of the time, despite getting adequate rest is often one of the first signs of disease or an imbalance that needs to be addressed. Your body having the ability to keep itself warm is another way in which we measure health. Being cold all of the time could be a sign of poor metabolic health (or a circulation issue) and needs to be looked at with a closer eye.

2. How well you are absorbing nutrients and the strength of your digestive system.

   Have you heard the term- you are what you eat?! Well- in Chinese medicine- it is “you are what you ABSORB”. You could be eating a very healthy diet- but if you’re having trouble absorbing those nutrients, that will definitely negatively impact your health. We will often check to see the state of your digestion by checking your tongue, feeling the pulse in the digestive area and asking you detailed questions about your digestion and what happens and how you feel after you eat food.

3. If your blood and lymph is circulating properly or if there is stasis present.

   Healthy circulation is of course a very important part of attaining good health. As acupuncturists, we’re always checking to ensure that things are moving and circulating as they should. As we get older, blood and lymph often don’t circulate as well as they used to and can cause things like pain, swelling, varicose veins, etc. Stress or trauma can be other potential causes of poor blood circulation. This is something we are constantly checking with hormone and fertility patients, as the state of the menstrual cycle is extremely important. We check to see how well blood is circulating throughout the uterus and reproductive organs, the regularity the menstrual cycle, and make sure that there is no pathological fluid build up that can cause swelling, edema, fatigue, etc.

4. The state of your adrenals and hormones.

   We’ll ask you questions about your menstrual cycle (if that applies to you), how long your periods are, if you have pain, if you feel energized in the morning, etc. We even like to check to see if you have a libido (sex drive) as that is an important aspect of our health that reflects that status of our adrenals. The presence of a sex drive is a good sign of health, and it often becomes absent in times of illness and hormone imbalances.

5. If there is any inflammation present- and in which organ system and why.

   Inflammation can contribute to so many types of chronic disease. In Chinese medicine, we go the extra mile by trying to ascertain where the inflammation is present and we have certain symptom markers for this. For instance, bad breath can mean inflammation in the Stomach and GI. We always check for signs of inflammation in the pulse, tongue, and your symptoms and then figure out where it showing up the most and why!

6. If there is mucous, phlegm, yeast, parasites, etc. (the state of your microbiome)

   Did you know mold, phlegm, mucous, candida &yeast, and even parasites can largely alter your microbiome and affect your health? In modern times, we are extremely prone to yeast, mucous, candida, and phlegm from eating processed and oil fried foods, foods dense in refined sugars, and drinking beer and alcohol. Most people have some level of what we call “dampness” in Chinese medicine- so don’t fret- acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can most definitely help!

7. Your stress levels and emotional state (and if that could be affecting your health).

   Unfortunately, stress can be the root cause of so many illnesses. Did you know that unexpressed and pent-up emotions can also negatively impact our health? In short, our emotional health affects our physical health, and vice versa. Poor physical health will also affect our mental health. Chinese medicine has always had a model for understanding how pent up anger can cause things like migraines, headaches, rib pain, etc. Repressed anger affects our Liver health, which controls digestion, nutrient absorption, hormone health & fertility, and so much more.

8. Elimination pathways

   We always check to see if your body is able to detox. Are you able to sweat, or are you sweating too much? Do you have any trouble urinating or are your urinating too much that it’s affecting your sleep? Our body detoxes through urination, sweat, and through the bowels, so we always check to see how all three of these things are working.

Have questions? Comment below!