Please review the following steps before your appointment
What should I record before a consultation for heat or cold sensations?
Even if tests did not reveal a cause, you can still describe your discomfort in detail. By noting the onset time, location, times when symptoms worsen, and changes in sweating, numbness, dry mouth, or sleep, and by preparing previous test results and medications, we can more accurately assess your heat-cold patterns and the direction of Korean medicine treatment.
3-Day Pre-Visit Log
You do not need to write extensively each day. Please leave brief notes on the following items once in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
| Item | How to record |
|---|---|
| Location and difference between left and right | Be specific, such as 'both soles of the feet' or 'fingertips of the right hand' |
| Sensation and intensity | Hot, burning, chilly, numb + 0~10 |
| Onset and duration | Starts after falling asleep, lasts 30 minutes |
| Aggravating or alleviating situations | After meals, after exercise, after stress, when touching cold water |
| Accompanying changes | Sweating, Dry mouth, pulsating, swelling, color change, sleep disturbance |
Prepare test materials so that your name and the date are visible
If you have already received results from blood tests, thyroid tests, diabetes-related tests, or nerve tests, please prepare the result sheets showing the test name, date, and values. Even if you were told there were 'no abnormalities,' it is important to know which items were checked and when. If your symptoms have changed recently, your current condition cannot be determined by previous results alone.
List everything you are currently taking without omission
Please list the names and daily dosages of not only your prescription medications but also any Korean herbal medicine, supplements, and health functional foods. Do not stop or reduce them on your own; any adjustments must be made in consultation with your prescribing healthcare provider. Information regarding caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and recent weight changes is also helpful when evaluating heat sensations, sweating, and throbbing.
When photos are helpful
If you notice changes in the color of your fingers or toes, or if you see swelling or a rash, take photos in natural light showing both the left and right sides together. However, photos do not replace a medical examination. If skin color changes persist or are accompanied by severe pain or decreased sensation, you must be evaluated at a medical institution immediately.
Write down questions to ask during your appointment in advance
- What conditions should be ruled out or confirmed first based on my current symptoms?
- Are my previous tests sufficient, or are there items that need to be re-checked?
- Can I receive treatment while continuing to take my current medications?
- What changes should prompt me to visit the clinic immediately?
- What should I record when monitoring my progress?
In heat-cold (Han-yeol) consultations, we use this data to examine both the findings from tests and the discomfort that remains unexplained. Without overlooking any single symptom, we analyze the distribution and accompanying patterns of heat and cold to identify areas where Korean medicine treatments, including Korean herbal medicine, can help. Whether an in-person or remote consultation is possible, and the subsequent method, will be determined based on actual symptoms and the medical provider's judgment.
Referenced Evidence and Scope of Application
National Institute on Aging (NIA) guide on preparing for a visiton how to prepare symptom and test records, as well as the names and dosages of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements, NICE Guidelines on Shared Decision Makingand the principles for determining questions and priorities before a visit. The record sheet is used during the examination to more specifically confirm the flow of symptoms and treatment priorities.
Apply this to my symptoms
This is how we continue the evaluation during the consultation
You do not need to have your symptoms perfectly organized to receive medical care. Simply noting the most difficult moments and the changes before and after them can serve as a starting point for the medical interview. Test results and medication lists are data used to re-identify the cause and to ensure treatment is administered safely.
We ask these three things first
- When, where, and what sensation is the most severe?
- Are sweating, throbbing, numbness, dry mouth, or changes in digestion occurring at the same time?
- Which has become most difficult due to the symptoms: sleep, work, or going out?
This is how the direction of Korean medicine treatment is determined
During the first visit, the recorded notes are linked with pulse diagnosis and medical interviewing to re-confirm the location and timing of heat and cold, as well as physical strength and digestive status. We will explain the goals of the Korean medicine treatment and the direction of the Korean herbal medicine prescription; if other confirmations are required first, the reason and sequence will also be provided.
We monitor these changes during treatment
- Recent test results and imaging reports
- List of current prescription medications, Korean herbal medicine, and supplements
- Photos that clearly show the symptoms and a simple record of about one week
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just tell you what I remember?
That is possible, but recording the time of day and patterns of recurrence for just a few days is helpful for the consultation. Rather than trying to be perfect, please distinguish between facts you have actually observed and your guesses.
Can this be confirmed via remote consultation?
The method of medical evaluation may vary depending on your symptoms and the clinician's judgment. If urgent tests or a physical examination are required, you may be guided to a nearby medical institution or an in-person visit.
We do not draw conclusions based on a single symptom name, but verify existing test results and the patterns in which symptoms appear together.