What happens during an acupuncture treatment?

During an initial acupuncture session, I conduct a very detailed intake on each patient. Some of the questions will be rather ordinary, but others may seems unusual, or unrelated to the patient’s condition. However, the TCM interview is designed to evaluate the patient from a very broad perspective that can provide clues for why a condition either developed or is stubbornly continuing despite seeing other more conventional doctors. In TCM we firmly believe that people are whole individuals, not just a conglomeration of parts. My experience has shown me that the details of how people’s bodies respond to their diet, work, recreation, stress, physical exercise, external climate and spiritual life all provide many clues as to why they are having health issues. 

 I also conduct a physical exam on each patient that includes taking western vitals signs and TCM vital signs (TCM pulse and tongue evaluation), as well an orthopedic exam if needed.

In my interview and exam I am also always assessing a patient for potential early stage medical red flags that would warrant referral to another health care practitioner. 

I often do cupping or moxibustion as warranted during an acupuncture treatment, but here I just going to describe the needling process. 

Patients then typically rest on a massage table or chair; selected areas for needle inserted are sterilized with a alcohol swab. All acupuncture needles are sterilized, single use,  in sealed individual packets and discarded as medical waste after each treatment. 

Needles are solid, stainless steel and very thin, some as thin as a human hair. I use only high quality needles to ensure smoothest insertion. Needle insertion is often completely painless, or may feel like a very momentary mosquito bite. 

After needle insertion, I check all needles for comfort, and may adjust needles.

During the treatment, almost all my patients experience deep relaxation and many take “needle naps”.  Acupuncture often has the effect of shifting the patient’s nervous system from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode. Patients often feel a heavy, warm, dull, perhaps mild ache sensation in some needle locations for part of the treatment which is often an indication that the acupuncture treatment was “spot on” and the needles are doing their job of getting acupoints to communicate across the body. 

How long is an acupuncture session?

Typically, needles are left in for 30-45 minutes, depending on the individual patient and what is going on with them.  The needles are then removed and discarded, and I usually with do a bit of bodywork or stretching to assist my treatment goals. 

Depending on the issue being addressed, I will recommend further treatments. Some acute issues may only need treatment a couple times, while more chronic issues may initially need several sessions closer together before moving to a more “maintenance” type schedule. My personal goal is to achieve what the venerable ancient physician Sun Si Miao stated,”The superior physician is one who treats his patient before the illness arrives”- meaning that I can catch things early in my patients and stop things from becoming a crisis.