The power of the body to heal and change is remarkable. It is important to understand that the healing process is not linear. Some days are better than others. This is true not only for acupuncture, but for most changes in our lives.
Change happens slowly. People don’t wake up one day and everything is better. It is a gradual improvement. You can’t learn how to play the piano or tai chi overnight. What’s more, gradual change is more sustainable.
Acupuncture is not like a pill or surgery. We are not cutting anything out of the body. Acupuncture is simply reminding the body to be healthy. For some acute conditions, such as a back spasms, acupuncture can work rapidly. But most people come for chronic long term health concerns, such as interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder, which can take time. Most patients have seen many other doctors and specialists before they come to see me.
The length of treatment depends largely on your health concern, the severity of the condition, and how long you’ve had it can all be factor. For example, in overactive bladder, we will look for changes in the intensity and frequency of the bladder spasms. Along the course of healing, some days will be better and other days will be worse. We want to see some changes within four to six acupuncture sessions. The full treatment course is generally twelve to sixteen visits.
