How to prepare for your first visit

Patients are advised to avoid alcohol consumption or any sedatives 4 hours prior to treatment. Patients should also avoid having large meals before and after treatments. A light meal is recommended instead.

Patients may also print and fill out our Medical History Form prior to your appointment time to better prepare for your visit. [Click this link to download the Medical History Form]

What to expect on your first visit

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human body is regarded as a collective whole. Therefore in order to examine a patient, Dr. Betty Bai will take into consideration all aspects of the patient to detect any imbalances in the body.

At a typical first visit to our clinic, a full diagnostic examination will be performed. This examination includes these four diagnostic methods.

Four Diagnostic Methods

1. Inspection
As the first step in diagnosing the patient, Dr. Bai will judge the patient’s general conditions. Commonly, focus will be given to areas such as the patient’s complexion, facial expression, lustre of the eyes, skin and tongue. An invaluable source of knowledge about the patient’s ailments, inspection of the tongue includes examination of its colour, form, moisture and coating.

2. Auscultation (Diagnosis based on sound and smell)
As part of auscultation, Dr. Bai pays special attention to the patient’s voice, breathing sounds and coughing to help differentiate symptoms. From this, Dr. Bai can then analyze and diagnose the cause, nature and location of the ailment.

3. Inquiry
Dr. Bai will also make inquiries of the patient about his or her current complaints, as well as health history, family history, appetite, sleep, bowel movements, digestion, emotional features, lifestyle, sweat, pain, etc. For female patients, questions may also involve inquiries about their menstrual cycle, discharge, gestation and birth control status.

4. Palpation
As the final point of the Four Diagnostic Methods, Dr. Bai will perform a pulse reading and a physical examination.

After your visit

Depending on your condition, you may be scheduled for follow-up visits. After treatment, patients should take a short rest if possible. Patients are not advised to do strenuous exercises after treatment.