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Post-treatment aftercare suggestions!

ByHealth Collective

We all know the blissful, drowsy, dreamy post-acu-nap stupor that overtakes us, making it tricky sometimes to remember some of the aftercare instructions your acupunk may remind you of. Aftercare ensures you have a soft landing after treatment as well as potentially maximizing the effects as well as the prolonging the benefits of your treatment.

Here is a list of the simple aftercare suggestions that will help you settle, integrate and get the most out of your acu-naps and/or Cupping+Gua Sha! Try incorporating one or more of the suggestions below following your next Community Acupuncture session at Heart & Hands :)

  • Drink water! Hydration supports any shifts in physiological function following your acu-nap including supporting that hard-working brain, digestive, respiratory and urinary systems!
  • Taking 10-15 minutes to ground back into you body! Slow deep breaths, sitting straight into your sit bones, feel your feet fully touching the floor and just ensuring all systems are on before you leave the clinic and step back out into the chaotic outdoors.
  • Perhaps a wee treat? Acupuncture can cause a drop in blood sugar, if you’re feeling a little wobbly post-acu-nap, this is a good time for a small snack or if you’re in a bind, just ask at the front desk, we keep juice boxes in case anyone has a hypoglycemic crash.
  • Gentle movement! Once we restore Qi flow in your body, the simplest way to maintain circulation is with gentle things like a slow walk (esp after a meal to stimulate digestion) or mellow stretching. Emphasis on GENTLE! Vigorous, intense physical activity can interfere or even undo the work that was done.
  • Apply heat! Whether in the form of a hot bath, shower or heating pad, heat promotes circulation of Qi and Blood, muscle relaxation and can help drop core body temperature before bedtime for a deeper, more restorative sleep.
  • Lean into your sleep hygiene! Focusing on your wind down routine in the evenings ensures you are grounded, regulated and your body is ready to power down so it can optimally perform all the vital physiological functions that only occur during deep sleep.
  • Bonus Cupping/Gua sha aftercare: Keep yourself covered! If you’ve been in one of Jade’s sessions for some cupping and gua sha you will have heard her pleas to mind your exposure to the elements for the next 24-48 hours. Cupping and gua sha both work by encouraging the flow of Qi in the outer-most channels, which is where our protective (Wei) Qi flows to keep us protected from outside pathogens – roughly analogous to our Western immune systems. After your treatment the areas you’ve had work done are more open and vulnerable to the outside world due to the disruption of this protective force field. Don’t fret! You don’t have to don a parka in August, a light layer will do to keep the heat, cold, dryness, dampness, and wind at bay while your system reconfigures its defenses. You just might want to re-think that ocean dip plan for after your appointment.

If you have any specific questions about how you can optimize or enhance the effects post-acu and/or Cupping+Gua Sha, don’t hesitate to ask your acu-punk after your session or shoot us an email, info@heartandhandscommunity.ca!

Community Acupuncture sessions are available MONDAYS-SATURDAYS!

Book your acu-naps!

Cupping & Gua Sha sessions are available with Jade WEDNESDAYS 3:00 – 6:45pm

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