What to expect from an Acupuncture treatment?

You are not alone! Some information before your first Acupuncture visit

Dr. Barbara Chang
Happiness Wellness
3 min readSep 12, 2018

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Like many patient of ours, you may not have an acupuncture treatment experience before. Here are some general questions answered for you before you decide to try Acupuncture. (Of course, we are always a phone call away to answer any questions you may have.=)

  • How long is the treatment? How much time will I spent in each session?

The Acupuncture treatment itself is between 15 to 30 minutes. (More discussion about the treatment time can be found here: Length of a treatment session) To be precise, I like to based on the book Lin Shu 靈樞 , where each cycle of Qi and Blood circulation takes about 28 minutes and 48 seconds.

New patients should expect approximately an hour including the consultation and the treatment for the first session. Follow-up sessions usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Cosmetic and Abdominal acupunctures should expect at least 45 minutes up to an hour and a half for each session.

  • How many treatments do I need?

Treatment plan varies from patient to patient depending on the severities of symptoms and the chronicity of the conditions. We aim to provide the most efficient and personalized care for each of our patients; we expect optimal improvement for all of our patients after treatments.

  • Who can benefit from treatment?

Patients of acupuncture range from infants to elderly. An acupuncturist may be their first choice of health care practitioner for a low-risk form of treatment; or, they may be seeking an integrative/ alternative medicine to the mainstream medicine for their chronic condition.

  • What conditions are commonly treated with Acupuncture?

Insomnia, anxiety/depression, immune system deficiency, gastrointestinal/digestive disorders (constipation), stress disorders, gynecological disorders, fertility/ reproductive system deficiency, pre-menstrual syndrome, menopausal discomfort, paralysis/numbness, fatigue, dizziness, high blood pressure, heart problems/ palpitations, cold/influenza, cough/bronchitis/rhinitis, allergy/asthma, skin problems, side effects of chemotherapy, and all sorts of musculoskeletal pain conditions including headache/ migraine, back pain, sciatica, arthritis/joint problems/knee pain, you name it! (Also Pain Management with Acupuncture)

  • What is the Acupuncture treatment process?

We treat each patient with customized personal care for optimal improvement, patients usually receive different course of treatments from us based on the patient’s medical history, tongue diagnosis, and pulse diagnosis.

Patient should be aware that during each acupuncture treatment, they will be treated with hair-thin disposable needles at each prescribed acupuncture points throughout the meridians base on traditional Chinese medicine theory. Herbal prescriptions are optional upon request with additional charges that are usually not covered by most of the health insurance.

  • How should I prepare for my first visit?

– Please allow 15–20 minutes to fill out first time paperworks prior to your actual consultation and treatment if you are NEW patient to the clinic.
– Loose and comfortable clothing is always the best outfit for optimal treatment experience.
– Cosmetic acupuncture for facial and/or neck area, it is recommended that you come without wearing make-up.
– Eat in moderation before coming in, DO NOT come hungry!

You may also be interested in reading What is Acupuncture?
More about Dr. Chang , Acupuncture Services, and Testimonials

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Dr. Barbara Chang
Happiness Wellness

Doctor of Chiropractic, Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Chiropractor, Licensed Acupuncturist