How Many Treatments
How Many Treatments Do You Need and How Does the Acupuncturist Use His or Her Needles?
You may be wondering how many treatments it takes before you recognize the positive effects of acupuncture. Many people are actually worried about the procedure’s use of several needles. Is it truly effective and does it hurt? Finding out more about the application and methods will help you know what to expect so you can relax more.
Treatment Frequency
During your first visit, you will be assessed about your current condition via traditional or modern methods. Modern methods will rely on laboratory and clinical diagnostic results, physical assessment and medical background history while traditional methods will rely on unique procedures such as pulse and tongue diagnosis. Traditional acupuncturists will also want to know about your medical history to confirm diagnosis.
The number, frequency and length of acupuncture treatments actually vary among patients depending on the symptoms presented, conditions being treated, tolerance to treatment, age and response to treatment. Some patients may start noticing results after 1 to 3 sessions while others need to let their body adapt to the stimulation gradually making the process last for months. Acute problems are faster and easier to treat thus require minimal time and frequency. For example, mild sprains may be treated through a couple of sessions while chronic fatigue may require a dozen or more sessions.
You may be treated immediately after assessment or diagnosis although most patients are asked to prepare then come back the next day or within the week. In most cases, acupuncture treatments are only done 1 to 3 times every week for a total of 12 sessions. Each session lasts anywhere between 20 to 60 minutes. Modern approaches have a scientific basis but are also considered as dry needling by traditional practitioners since they can take as fast as 5 to 10 minutes. As patients improve, acupuncture treatment will be needed less and less.
How Fast to Notice Results
Most patients report noticing positive results anywhere between the 1st and 4th treatment. Women who are being treated for infertility or menstrual problems may take more time so wait until after 3 menstrual cycles. Appointments will be scheduled farther and farther apart as patients start responding to treatment.
In other cases, acupuncture may not prove to be effective if patients do not feel anything after 3 to 5 treatments. Other options for acupuncture treatment, different forms of acupuncture or alternative medicine may be provided instead. Acute problems improve faster while chronic ones take time. Some patients may experience side effects after the first treatment such as sleepiness, fatigue and mild pain. Contact your acupuncturist immediately for serious and adverse symptoms.
Acupuncture Needles
Licensed and safe acupuncture practitioners only use sterile disposable needles to be used only once to avoid any risk of infection. Generally, the needles are only as thick as a strand of hair. These are fine, filiform and solid unlike the hollow ones used in sewing and surgery. The end of the needle is smooth, rounded and designed to prevent cutting the skin. When acupuncture needles are inserted at specific points, the very thin round tip actually pushes the tissues aside without cutting it similar to a gliding action.
In 1996, the FDA or Food and Drug Administration considered acupuncture needles as safe and legal devices for medical practice. These were reclassified similarly to surgical needles, syringes, scalpels and other surgical tools and are currently manufactured with single-use sterility standards. There are 9 types of needles used in acupuncture but 6 are most commonly used. Others may not dispose of the needles after each use but are required to sterilize it completely in an autoclave after every contamination or use.
Application of the Needles
Needles are inserted at different acupuncture points, at varying degrees, at varying depths and at varying numbers depending on the needs of the patient. In terms of angle, the needles are inserted anywhere between 15 to 90 degrees against the skin surface. You should expect to feel a slight sharp sensation as the needle pushes tissues aside.
Other associated sensations include coolness, warmth, dull ache and tingling. Different modes of stimulation will then be provided through needle handles to add sensation and reduce stress. Different techniques will also be incorporated depending on the present condition such as raising, twirling, plucking, thrusting and scraping.
