Acupuncture is one of the most widely used treatments in Chinese medicine and is still applied today in thousands of patients seeking a different alternative to reduce pain or cure diseases that traditional medicine does not solve.
This millenary practice seeks to reestablish the flow of energy through the different meridians that cross the body and whose blockage generates an imbalance that manifests itself in an illness.
To obtain good results with this technique, specialists will study each case to determine the number of sessions that the patient requires. Likewise, we will clear up any doubts you may have in this article.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient technique developed by Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles into the skin to stimulate certain areas of the body. These intervene to reestablish the energy that has been blocked in the channels that run through the body, it is believed that diseases are the result of such a blockage.
This approach to disease as the imbalance between the energies that make up our body and block the flow of our vital energy, qi, obviously, considers that healing arises from the restoration of the lost balance between the 2 elemental forces that make up the human being: yin and yang.
How long does this treatment take?
The number of treatments depends on each person’s condition and how he or she responds to acupuncture. One session of acupuncture does not normally take away the pain. One or two sessions every week for five to six weeks is the normal course of treatment.
The answer to this question has no single answer, since each treatment depends on the special conditions of each patient. What we can assure is that one session is not enough to end a health problem.
It often happens that many people who come to acupuncture do so after having visited multiple specialists without finding solutions to their health problem, hoping for a magic solution, but in this case it will also require time and patience.
Below, we discuss the factors that determine the duration of a treatment:
- Whether the illness is acute or chronic: anxiety problems, insomnia, depression, body aches, asthma, irritable bowel, etc., require a greater number of sessions. In the case of acute pain, such as torticollis, lumbago, sprains, etc., the number of sessions is much lower.
- Whether acupuncture should be accompanied by phytotherapy: In some cases, it is required to accompany the treatment with the consumption of herbs, which may require more sessions.
- The patient’s age: In a young body the response is faster, so the treatment will be more reduced.
- The general state of health: If the body is in good shape, the system will react faster than an intoxicated or out of normal weight organism.
Possible risks
The risks of acupuncture are low if you use a certified and competent acupuncturist who uses sterile needles. Common side effects include pain, and mild bruising or bleeding where the needles are inserted. Nowadays, using single-use disposable needles is standard practice, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture. You may be at risk for complications in the following cases:
- You have a bleeding disorder. The chance of bleeding or bruising from needles increases if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinners.
- You have a pacemaker. Acupuncture, which involves applying mild electrical impulses to needles, can interfere with the functioning of a pacemaker.
- You are pregnant. Some types of acupuncture are intended to stimulate labor, which could trigger premature labor.
Consult professional acupuncture practitioners, they will help you decide exactly how many times and how much time you need, but it is very important to review their qualifications.
How much will I spend?
According to Costhelper Health, an acupuncture session and medical consultation will cost from $75 to $95, and a routine visit will cost between $50 and $70.
Trusted source
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763
