How Often Should You Get Acupuncture

Are you curious about acupuncture’s potential to improve your health? Dr. Barry Rubin, a physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Orlin & Cohen and one of the few board-certified, licensed acupuncture practitioners on Long Island, shares his expertise. He’ll explain what acupuncture is good for, how often you should get treatments, and how to know if you’re going too frequently.

What Is Acupuncture Good For?

Acupuncture is a time-tested, holistic practice that’s been around for more than 2,000 years. While it originated from ancient Chinese medicine, acupuncture has continued to evolve over centuries into the modern practice we know today.

In the traditional sense, acupuncture is believed to balance the flow of energy, known as “qi” or “chi,” throughout your body by inserting very thin needles at strategic points along your body’s pathway or meridians.

Today, with the advancements of modern medicine, we’ve come to view these acupuncture points as key sites to stimulate the body’s central nervous system and musculoskeletal system, which can offer a broad range of health benefits, including:

• Pain management
• Improved joint function
• Stress reduction
• Improved digestion, especially for those with issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic indigestion
• The support of respiratory health for individuals with asthma and allergies
• Immune response
• Postoperative recovery

How often should you get acupuncture?

The frequency of acupuncture sessions can vary depending on your condition and health goals. Typically, acupuncture treatments are initiated at a rate of once or twice a week over the course of six to eight weeks.

Your acupuncturist may increase or decrease the frequency of your treatment depending on how your body responds. In most cases, once your condition begins to improve, the rate of treatment is often reduced.

Many people find it beneficial to continue with acupuncture treatments every month to prevent symptom recurrence.

How much acupuncture is too much?

Acupuncture is generally safe and well-tolerated by most when administered by a trained and licensed practitioner. However, it’s essential to avoid excessive treatments or overuse.

As with many therapeutic treatments, your body can reach a point of diminishing returns with acupuncture. Initially, you may experience noticeable improvements in your condition or well-being, but as you continue to receive treatments, the rate of improvement may slow down. Your acupuncturist will closely monitor your progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly to prevent this.

If you begin to notice symptoms such as bruising, soreness, fatigue, or changes in mood or sleep, speak with your specialist.

Just as acupuncture is about restoring balance to the body’s energy flow, you should strike balance in the frequency of your treatments. At Orlin & Cohen, we combine traditional acupuncture techniques with our comprehensive orthopedic expertise to help patients return to their everyday lives and the activities they enjoy with greater mobility and less pain.

Looking to relieve chronic pain or get the support you need to live a more balanced, active life? We’ve got a specialist for that. Request a same-day appointment or learn more about acupuncture treatments at Orlin & Cohen.