One of the most common questions I get as an acupuncturist is, "How many treatments do I need?" I like this question, because it speaks to the part of us that's ready to move on with our lives. It's essentially asking, "How long do I have to put up with this?"I'm in the position to cheer that part of you on, and I'd like to give you some idea of how long you can expect to use acupuncture for a given condition. This is a ballpark figure, and your individual response will depend on your own state of health and the combination of factors involved in your condition. You can, however, expect to be presented with a treatment proposal that will be customized to you.
Let's review the conditions for which acupuncture has been proven effective:
| Stress | Digestive | Respiratory | Pain | Women’s Health |
| Emotional Distress | Nausea | Asthma | Joint Pain | Infertility |
| Depression | Vomiting | Sore Throat | Bone Pain | PMS |
| Anxiety | GERDs | Cold/Flu | Nerve Pain | Menstrual Disorders |
| Insomnia | Gastritis | Headaches | Dental Pain | Menopause |
| Smoking Cessation | Diarrhea | Pneumonia | Cancer Pain | UTI's |
| Addictions | Constipation | Tonsillitis | Sciatica | Incontinence |
| Dizziness | IBS | Sinusitis | Arthritis | Endometriosis |
| Fatigue | Colitis | Rhinitis | Tennis Elbow | Uterine Bleeding |
| Weight Management | Chron's Disease | Allergies | Headaches | |
| Hiccups | Ear Infections | TMJ | ||
| Morning Sickness | Bronchitis | Chronic Fatigue | ||
| Fibromyalgia | ||||
| Peripheral Neuropathy |
For stress and the related symptoms, your investment of time is in a direct relationship to how long you've had the condition. In other words, it's good to come in early, because your recovery time will be shorter. Acupuncture for stress ailments will have an immediate relieving effect. For short term conditions in this category, four treatments in 1-2 months are enough to get you back on track. On the other hand, I see people all the time who have struggled with stress conditions for their entire lives. Eight treatments in two months brings the transformation they're looking for, followed by four treatments in two months to ensure long-term success.
The digestive category is almost identical to stress; I am certain it is because the two are so deeply related. Exceptions are vomiting and hiccups, which will find immediate relief from a single treatment. Morning sickness may require continued attention through the second trimester.
For respiratory conditions, the treatment is two-fold, between prevention and management of attacks. Depending on the condition, it could take 1-4 weekly treatments to manage the attack, before prevention is addressed, usually in 6-8 treatments over the following 2 months. If the issue is seasonal, prevention may need to be addressed 1-5 times annually.
Pain is categorized by chronic (over 1 month old) and acute (under 1 month old). Pain relief is often immediate with follow-up treatments to lengthen and strengthen that relief. Just like with stress conditions, four to twelve treatments in one to four months is the range depending on how chronic the condition is. If you have a severely chronic or degenerative condition, your plan will include suggestions for long-term care.
In Women's Health issues, treatment plans often revolve around your menstrual cycle, especially in cases of PMS, infertility, endometriosis, and uterine bleeding. With these conditions, you will ideally be treated just prior to ovulation and just prior to scheduled bleeding, meaning at least 2 treatments per month for 3-6 months.
