A Chinese Medicine treatment begins with a detailed medical history and an individual diagnostic assessment. This is followed by regular treatment sessions. During the treatment process, the Chinese medical diagnosis is continuously reviewed and adjusted.
If you are new to Chinese Medicine (or TCM), it is completely natural to wonder what a treatment actually involves. The following overview is designed to give you a clear and realistic idea of what to expect — no prior knowledge required.
The diagnostic methods described are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and do not replace conventional medical diagnosis.
Your first treatment
Every treatment begins with a thorough initial consultation. During this first session, we take time to discuss your main concerns and current symptoms in detail, as well as your general state of health.
This may include topics such as:
- Sleep quality (falling asleep, staying asleep)
- Sensitivity to temperature (feeling cold or warm easily)
- Digestion (for example bloating, discomfort, or pain)
These aspects help build a comprehensive picture of your individual situation.
A key element of Chinese Medicine is pulse diagnosis. Functional patterns in Chinese Medicine are reflected in the qualities of the pulse. For this purpose, the pulse is gently assessed at three positions on each wrist. Characteristics such as depth, tension, and rhythm provide information that supports the diagnostic process.
Tongue diagnosis is another important diagnostic method. The colour, shape, and coating of the tongue can offer additional insights. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid tongue scraping and strongly colouring foods or drinks (such as coffee or black tea) before your appointment.
After the assessment, we discuss which treatment approaches may be suitable and how frequently sessions should take place.
If appropriate, the first treatment then follows. An initial appointment usually lasts 90 to 120 minutes, depending on how much needs to be discussed.
Follow-up appointments
During follow-up sessions, we review any changes or developments since your last visit. Pulse and tongue diagnosis are always a part of this.
Through acupuncture, the use of Chinese herbal formulas, and possible dietary or lifestyle guidance, the body’s functional patterns may shift over time. In Chinese Medicine, diagnosis is therefore understood as a snapshot of a dynamic system and is continually adjusted throughout the course of treatment.
Depending on the treatment approach, follow-up sessions may take place weekly or every two to four weeks. These appointments typically last around 45 to 60 minutes.
Ongoing support and completion of treatment
As a treatment phase comes to a close, it may be appropriate to continue supporting the body for a period of time. In such cases, appointments at intervals of around six weeks can be advisable.
Chinese Medicine is often considered when symptoms are already present — often various other treatment approaches have been tried out. At the same time, it has a long tradition in supporting health and resilience, because functional patterns can be identified before clear symptoms develop. Supportive treatment may therefore be considered during times of increased physical or emotional stress, following infections that have not fully resolved, during hormonal transitions such as menopause, or after surgery.
Natural cycles and seasonal changes are also taken into account in Chinese Medicine. Under certain conditions, they can be used to support the body in a targeted way. Special herbal formulas around periods such as the summer or winter solstice are only considered when no acute patterns need to be addressed first and are usually discussed towards the completion of a treatment process.
