Here are some things that come into play in determining how many treatments a client may need in order to get the desired results:
- chronic vs. acute condition: have you had the complaint for 3 months? 6 months? years? or did this just come up last week? today?
- healthy vs. multiple complaints: is it just one thing that you're coming in with or are there several? Are you generally a healthy person or has there been a lot going on?
- your health history: closet full or skeletons or cobwebs?
- your family health history: riddled with issues or clean as a whistle?
- complacency: if it's recommended you come in 2 times/week for the next 3 weeks are you going to do it? if it's recommended that you make dietary or lifestyle changes are you going to?
- consistency: are you going to make an effort to be on time every time & come to every appointment?
- how your body responds to the treatment
Acupuncture works cumulatively. The more consistent the treatments & the more compliant the client, the faster, easier, & better the results. In general: the longer the issue has been going on, the more there are, & the more extensive the health history, the longer it may take & vice versa. Again, this is in general. By no means is this factual. I always give a guideline of a treatment course & a treatment number by which to reevaluate. eg: "I'd like to see you twice a week for four weeks. We will reevaluate our treatment course at the end of the fourth treatment". It may take more treatments, it may take less than the prescribed number.
Be open to what your acupuncturist is telling you. Just like the point prescription isn't pulled out of thin air, neither is the treatment course.
