If you are new to acupuncture, then you are probably wondering how many acupuncture sessions you will need to see results.  The short answer is: It depends.  It depends on what you are seeking treatment for, how long you have had symptoms, and how frequently you can get treatments, among other things.  I’ll share some of my insights from practice and what you might expect for certain conditions. 

The Acupuncture Treatment Plan

It’s important to think about acupuncture as medicine.  Like other medicines, it must be given in the proper doses to be effective.  The dosage is determined by your acupuncturist and outlined in a treatment plan.  When I give a patient a treatment plan, I think about it in three phases: Relieve, Restore, and Maintain.  

Relieve Phase – this phase is designed to help alleviate your discomfort and decrease the severity of your symptoms.  Frequency and consistency are essential in this phase, and it may require two or more acupuncture treatments per week for several weeks.  Once symptoms start to diminish, you will move into the Restore phase. 

Restore Phase – this phase is designed to help rebuild and restore the function of your body so that symptoms don’t return.  This phase is tricky because people often feel better, and so they are inclined to stop treatments. I totally get this line of thinking!  Just like you would stop taking Advil once a headache subsides, it’s tempting to think everything is fine again. But what is keeping that headache from coming back?  Only by correcting the underlying cause of the headache can we truly solve the problem.  That is what the Restore phase is all about.  

Typically, in this phase, we can start to space treatments out a bit further to maybe once per week or every other week, depending on how a person responds. This phase usually lasts a few weeks.  Once it appears that a person is well-balanced and symptoms are not returning, then we move to the maintenance phase. 

Maintain phase – This phase could essentially be lifelong. Acupuncture is both restorative and preventative medicine.  I generally recommend 1-2 acupuncture treatments per month for the maintenance of health and well-being. 

Is one acupuncture treatment ever enough?

It’s a common misconception that acupuncture is a one-and-done type of treatment. I wish this were the case, but unfortunately, it will take time and commitment to really see the benefits of acupuncture. 

That being said, after your first treatment, you should feel something. Maybe you feel little calmer, and less stressed, or you sleep better that night, or your digestion seems to improve.  Any change or improvement after your first treatment is a good sign that your body responds well to acupuncture, and you will likely see results from continued treatments. 

Acupuncture Treatment Plan Examples

I want to provide a few scenarios of how many acupuncture treatments you will need, but note that these do not apply to all people. Treatment plans are determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Acute pain (muscle strain, sprain, spasm, etc…)

  • Relief – Acupuncture daily or every other day until the pain improves
  • Restore – 1-2 treatments per week for 4 weeks
  • Maintain – 1-2 treatments per month ongoing

Chronic pain (chronic back pain, knee pain, chronic pain of unknown origin)

  • Relief – Acupuncture treatments 1-2 times per week for 4-6 weeks
  • Restore – Acupuncture 1 time per week for 4-6 weeks
  • Maintain – 1-2 treatments per month ongoing

Menstrual Irregularities

  • Relief – Acupuncture weekly for at least three months to gauge the regularity of the cycle
  • Restore – Acupuncture treatments every other week for two months
  • Maintain – 1-2 treatments per month ongoing

If these numbers feel a little bit daunting and you are thinking, “There’s no way I can afford or make time for that many treatments!”  What I like to tell my patients is that while the best results are achieved with frequent and consistent treatment, some acupuncture is better than no acupuncture. Just do the best that you can.  

You might also check with your insurance provider to see if treatments are covered. Acupuncture is gaining traction in the world of medicine, and more and more insurance carriers are covering treatments. 

I hope this post has given you some idea of how many acupuncture treatments you will need.  If you have more questions, feel free to reach out.

Acupuncture services with Dr. Leah Chischilly, D.Ac, L.Ac., available beginning February 14th, 2023 at Tatum Chiropractic and Wellness. To book an appointment, visit tatumwellness.com