The number of treatments depends on the severity of the medical condition, how long the condition existed before receiving acupuncture, and the overall health of the client.
The goal of acupuncture is to both alleviate symptoms, such as low back or shoulder pain, as well as correct the underlying energetic imbalance or blockage at the root of the problem. The number of treatments required is different for every person and is difficult to predict prior to an assessment and an understanding of how the person responds to acupuncture.
In general, the longer a person has any given medical condition, the more acupuncture it will require to treat. So, whereas, a condition of recent onset may be relieved within 1 to 3 treatments, long lasting conditions may require 5 to 10, or even more treatments to achieve significant relief. With this being said, it's not uncommon for long standing medical conditions to resolve quickly.
Please Note: herbs are of equal importance to acupuncture and can greatly speed up the rate of recovery.
The frequency of treatment depends on the stage of disease and the body's response acupuncture. Recovery is divided into three stages, as follows:
Acute: immediately following injury or when symptoms are most severe. The goal here is a major shift in overall wellness and reduction of symptoms. Treatments during acute phase may be as often as 2 to 3 times per week.
Remission: As symptoms reduce in severity and frequency, treatment frequency also reduces to weekly or every other week.
Maintenance: Symptoms are absent or very infrequent. Treatment is continued monthly or seasonally to maintain health and prevent remission or new dis-ease.