The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative. It is important to understand that, although this does happen occasionally, acupuncture is not a “one-time only miracle treatment”. Acupuncture has a dose where each treatment builds upon the progress of the previous one.
You will need to commit to a certain number of treatments, spaced at first weekly or twice weekly to get the desired effect. At the 4-6th treatment we will discuss your progress with you and will decide if more visits are needed, and how far apart they should be. We will guide you through this process. Generally we treat once or twice a week. When we see improvement, the visits are spaced further apart depending on how long the previous treatment has lasted. Once you’ve achieved your desired result, treatments may end. If you came to see us for a long term condition it is wise to book maintenance appointments to prevent your symptoms from returning. These can be monthly or at the turn of the seasons.
Preventative treatments and those for general well-being may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis. With this in mind, the best way to treat is the Yellow Emperor’s Way. A good doctor keeps the emperor healthy and doesn’t wait until an illness gets established. This is why Chinese Medicine is called “gardening medicine”. The best way is to prevent illness is by educating you on how to stay healthy instead of waiting too long, and having to resort to the treatment of disease, which is more difficult.
You will get the best results if you agree to take an active part in your healing process and realize you are responsible for your own actions. This means following advice on stress reduction techniques, diet, stretching, and searching within yourself for any unwanted behaviours that ultimately prevent you from achieving your goals.
