Timely Results with Acupuncture

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.

What to Expect When You Quit Smoking

"Quitting smoking is the easiest thing I've ever done. I've successfully quit smoking over 100 times." - Mark Twain

I dislike the term 'quitting' for such an engaging process. Smoking isn't a job or a goal, and any person wanting to be a quitter is about as ridiculous as Harry Potter wanting to suck. You quit a job. You quit a sport. You quit when you want to give up. With smoking, you let go. It's liberating.

One day you decide to let go. Hooray! No more empty pockets, smelly fingers, rancid tongues, achy teeth, headaches... notice I didn't even get to cough yet. Or the amount of time spent smoking only to feel hassled and tardy.

Weeks after liberation you may have dreams about smoking, and you wake up yelling, 'No! Don't have that cigarette!' Through these signs, your body and your subconscious ask for your support because you have entered a new stage of quitting. Speaking of stages, I've outlined the main 5 phases of liberation. These may change order or skip for some people, but it helps to know what to expect.

1. Withdrawal:  Withdrawal is where you do the hard work of kicking the habit, with the faith that the feeling has to end - and it will. In the meantime: acupuncture, herbs, and your willpower can see you through the first 7-14 days. (Frequent detox acupuncture treatments during this time have eased the withdrawal symptoms of many of my patients. Find out about the NADA protocol and its benefits.)
2. Rush:  After the hard work has been done, it's easy to feel cocky. And perfectly okay! Just remember that you're not invincible. Be prepared to rest when your energy levels start to normalize.
3. Plateau:  It's easy to get bored and complacent here. Celebrate your victory now that you have put some miles on quitting. How can you celebrate in a way that keeps you in touch with your body and how it has transformed - something just for you? In fact, this is the perfect time for a follow-up acupuncture treatment.
4. Dip:  Somewhere along the line, life happens. Beware the holidays, stressful projects at work, and other seasonal activities for the first year. Plan accordingly, and take care of yourself. By now you are receiving acupuncture on an "as-needed" basis, so don't forget to check in when you're nearing a dip!
5. Forget:  You know you're finally over it when you forget about smoking for months and then remember that hey, you used to smoke. No more crazy dreams, no more waking up at 5 am, no more morning cough. Not only are the yucky things missing, but you also have your own special reason for staying smoke free. Money in your pocket? More time to spare? Better sleep? Look around you and appreciate everything you have now because you let go of the habit.

In all of this, there's one or two things that you'll absolutely love about "quitting" - it's your job to find them and hold on to them. The first two weeks are the groundwork for the next few months, which depend on your stress levels. If you drink or use other substances, you are likely to make unbalanced decisions at a bar or party. Only you know when it is time to return to those environments with confidence that you can remain smoke-free.