Acupuncture is an alternative medical technique that uses small needles to stimulate specific body points. It assists in alleviating pain and treating numerous diseases, restoring balance to your body and healthy functioning to every body system and organ. Like most patients interested in the treatment, you might be unsure of your treatment goals and what to expect. Please read this blog post to avoid surprises when your health is on the line.

Defining Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) option used to relieve some diseases and symptoms, such as pain. Chinese medicine calls the energy flowing through the body qi. Medical practitioners believe qi disruptions lead to imbalances in the body's energy, causing diseases. Acupuncture rebalances qi with needles touching acupuncture points throughout the body.

The needles stimulate the body’s immune system and central nervous system to do the following:

  • Reacting to a disease or symptom
  • Releasing natural chemicals like neurotransmitters and endorphins
  • Rebalancing the body

What  to Expect During the Procedure

In your initial acupuncture session, the acupuncturist will evaluate your overall health. Since every treatment is unique, this will allow for personalized treatment.

During the investigative stage, your medical practitioner will ask about the following:

  • Diet
  • Your symptoms
  • Previous treatments
  • Digestive systems
  • Emotional health
  • Sleeping patterns
  • Family medical history

The acupuncturist will also examine the pulse of your wrists to determine how energies are flowing in your body by checking the pulse’s quality, rhythm, and strength.

Every acupuncturist has a distinct style, often mixing aspects of Western and Eastern medicine practices. The acupuncturist may request to know your symptoms, lifestyle, and behaviors to identify the type of acupuncture procedure that can address your needs and treatment goals. They will also carefully examine the following before making a diagnosis:

  • Your face’s color
  • Body parts experiencing pain
  • Your tongue’s coating, shape, and color

During your acupuncture treatment, the acupuncturist will insert tiny needles into specific points of your body. The penetration of the needles may cause minor discomfort.

How the Procedure Works

Acupuncture points are located all over your body. Sometimes, the relevant areas are not far from your pain area. Your acupuncturist will inform you of the area of the scheduled treatment and if you require a change of clothing. They will offer you a towel or a gown. The treatment involves the following:

  • Needle insertion — The acupuncture needles require insertion into different depths at specific points on your body. Patients often do not feel the insertion of the needles. A single treatment can use about five to 20 needles. You might experience a slight aching sensation as the needle penetrates to its appropriate depth.
  • Needle manipulation — Your acupuncturist can lightly twirl or twist the needles following insertion or apply light electrical charges to the acupuncture needles.
  • Needle removal — Sometimes, the needles stay in place for about ten to fifteen minutes as you relax while lying still.

Some patients feel more relaxed after an acupuncture treatment, while others reenergize. However, acupuncture treatment responses can vary. 

How long is an Acupuncture Session?

Typically, an acupuncture session takes an hour, but it will depend on the condition the acupuncturist is treating. Some diseases require less or longer times than others. Additionally, some ailments require more attention, like pregnancy acupuncture. After your physician inserts the needles, the needles remain in position for fifteen to twenty minutes.

Please note that as treatment progresses, session lengths vary. The physician will be constantly monitoring your well-being and health. Therefore, they can determine that you no longer require frequent or extended acupuncture sessions. If they discover the treatment is not working as expected, they will change the strategy, which can affect timeframes.

How long Does It take to See Acupuncture Results

There are two timelines to see the results of acupuncture, depending on your treatment goal. 

If you sought traditional Chinese medicine for a sports injury or acute pain, you might notice the pain almost immediately after treatment.

For chronic pain, it could take three sessions to notice improvements. Sometimes, the pain moves to other body areas because the secondary pain site becomes noticeable when the treatment alleviates the most severe pain.

If your goal for acupuncture treatment goes beyond alleviating pain, the results could occur in different time frames.

What to Expect After an Acupuncture Treatment

After your treatment, your body undergoes a significant transformation as it adjusts to the stimulating effect caused by the needles.  While every patient has a unique experience, common physical reactions following treatment are as follows:

Physical Sensations

You will feel different physical sensations during and after an acupuncture session as your body responds to the treatment. One sensation can be mild muscle tenderness or soreness at the needle insertion points. You will experience mild discomfort. You might also experience warmth or tingling in some areas, even those away from your needle sites. The sensations mean improved energy flow and circulation along your targeted meridians. 

As the treatment continues, you might experience profound tranquility and relaxation. The tension reduces as the body moves into a parasympathetic state, promoting rejuvenation and recovery.

By the conclusion of your treatment, you will feel calm and energized, bringing a sense of well-being and vitality. 

Emotional Reactions

Patients also experience various changes in their emotions and moods, including the following:

  • Euphoria — Some patients report experiencing a euphoric feeling as the needles promote the release of neurotransmitters and endorphins in the brain.
  • Emotions release
  • Relaxation —   Most patients feel a sense of peacefulness and tranquility during the treatment as the nervous system changes into a parasympathetic state. Some patients sleep on the acupuncture table and wake up feeling renewed and refreshed.

Skin Reactions

It is normal to see mild skin reactions after the treatment. Patients see slight bruising, mild itchiness, and tiny red dots at the insertion areas. It is due to acupuncture needles lightly puncturing the skin, despite being small. The body reacts to the punctures by increasing blood circulation to the region to facilitate recovery.

Nerve ending stimulation and histamine release can also lead to itching sensations that disappear in a few days.

How to Know Acupuncture is Working: Treatment Goals

Some of the key signs that your acupuncture treatment is effective include the following:

Enhanced Quality of Sleep

Improved sleep patterns indicate that the treatment is working; patients who have received successful acupuncture treatment experience longer sleep durations and better quality rest.

Having more restful nights and fewer interruptions as you sleep may indicate reduced pain and emotional stress, key issues your acupuncture therapy addresses. These changes show your body is responding positively to the treatment.

Pain Relief

Successful acupuncture treatment relieves constant pain, including neck and back discomfort. The body releases neurotransmitters and endorphins during acupuncture treatment, which function as natural pain relief agents.

Patients who have received acupuncture treatment for severe pain often experience a reduced level of discomfort. However, after the acupuncture treatment, your pain may fluctuate in intervals throughout the recovery period. Although patients with mild pain may experience relief almost instantly, those with lingering chronic conditions can require several sessions before they identify noticeable improvement.

Sustaining the pain relief can take four to six acupuncture sessions for six weeks. The incremental approach fully activates your body’s innate recuperative abilities, resulting in comfort from suffering. 

Improved Emotional Wellness

Acupuncture is an effective method of boosting emotional health by diminishing stress and fostering relaxation. Activating your nervous system mitigates symptoms related to depression and anxiety, promoting emotional stability.

After a few sessions, patients start experiencing an improved sense of emotional equilibrium. You might experience temporary heightened emotional responses, like unexpected irritability and crying. It is part of the recovery process that assists in getting rid of deep-seated diseases.

Improved Immunity System

Immune homeostasis is a stable immune state that protects you from pathogens and prevents the emergence of pathological self-reactive immune cells. The disruption of immune homeostasis results in the development of diseases, like autoimmune diseases and cancer. Luckily, evidence proves that acupuncture can bidirectionally control your immunity to maintain immune homeostasis.

How Long Do Acupuncture Benefits Last?

Acupuncture treatment benefits may last weeks, months, or even a year. Nevertheless, this depends on the condition you were treated for, the extent of your symptoms, and your medical history. Some patients may experience longer-lasting benefits than others.

Individuals with more acute symptoms may require more acupuncture treatment sessions than those with minor signs. Consequently, it could take longer to notice the treatment’s outcome, and the results might not be as effective as with minor symptoms.

Although the results of acupuncture vary from patient to patient, many individuals start experiencing benefits after one or two sessions. Sometimes, noticeable results may take longer. In this case, your acupuncturist could suggest at least five sessions before determining if the treatment does not work.

How to Best Maximize the Benefits of Your Acupuncture Treatment

You can optimize your treatment's potential and realize your goal by doing the following:

  • Following your scheduled first appointment, ensure you tell the acupuncturist about other medical conditions you may be receiving treatment for or practicing care at home.
  • Upon your arrival at the acupuncturist’s office, provide a detailed account of all other treatments so that they can review how they align with acupuncture.
  • When going for your acupuncture, you should wear the appropriate clothing. Consider putting on loose clothes because the acupuncturist can request you roll them if that makes you more comfortable while ensuring they can access the proper points.

Risks and Side Effects of Acupuncture

Acupuncture’s side effects can include the following:

  • Nausea
  • Skin rash
  • Infections
  • Dizziness
  • Allergic reaction
  • Pain and bleeding from needle insertion
  • Bruising around the needle insertion sites

To lower the risk factors, licensed, trained, and experienced practitioners should perform the treatment using clean, disposable needles.

What Do You Expect to Pay for Your Acupuncture Treatment?

One acupuncture session may cost between $75 and $125. Nevertheless, the first consultation, which entails a medical evaluation and treatment plan, could incur extra fees ranging from $100 to $150.

Prices may vary significantly based on your location. In urban locations, the cost of initial appointments could be higher, with some acupuncturists charging about $150 for the initial consultation.

Other factors affecting the cost can include the acupuncturist’s experience, clinic reputation, the session’s length, and other additional services.

Does Insurance Cover Acupuncture?

Most health insurance providers cover acupuncture, depending on your medical necessity and your specific insurance plan.  is covered by insurance. For instance, conditions like nausea and pain due to chemotherapy or post-surgery recovery can be considered medically essential.

Regarding your specific plan, contact your service provider to review your plan and understand what is covered. Remember to inquire about restrictions on the treatment’s duration and number of visits.

Post-Treatment Care

You can take care of yourself after an acupuncture treatment by doing the following:

  • Allow yourself ample time to rest — Following your acupuncture session, you should get enough rest, and if you have to resume work, you should do light tasks.
  • Hydrate well — Drink lots of water to aid in flushing out toxins that could be released during the treatment.
  • Take a light meal — Eat a light and nourishing meal to replenish your energy levels, but avoid heavy, spicy, or greasy foods.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine — Avoid alcohol or caffeine for a day after your acupuncture session; they could interfere with the benefits of acupuncture.
  • Wear comfortable clothes — Put on loose clothing to allow for better blood circulation and reduce friction around the acupuncture points.
  • Adhere to your acupuncturist’s instructions— Your acupuncturist will provide precise post-treatment advice. Obey these instructions for optimal outcomes.
  • Keep taking your medications — If you take prescription medications, keep taking them. Note that acupuncture is a complementary therapy and must not replace prescribed treatments.
  • Pay attention to how you feel — Listen to your body. If you feel any unusual or acute reactions, consult your acupuncture practitioner.

Find a Skilled Acupuncturist Near Me

Acupuncture provides a natural, comprehensive method to promote your body’s recovery and balance, irrespective of your treatment goals. Art of Chinese Healing, a skilled Los Angeles-based TCM practice, can help you navigate the path to wellness by carefully examining you and developing an individualized treatment plan. Please contact us at 310-405-1610 to learn how we can help you.