Acupuncture treatments can be performed in clinics, hospitals, medical spas, chiropractic offices, and wellness centers. “The physical environment can be that of a conventional clinic or resemble a spa,” says Chu. The treatment room is generally a quiet, private space, and patients often have a way to communicate with the practitioner via a buzzer or call device, he adds.
New patients should expect to complete a medical history form upon arrival, as with any other medical visit. You will also spend time, from a few minutes to more, discussing your concerns with the provider, much like a doctor would take a history. “There’s a little back and forth of questioning and diagnosing,” Sheinberg says. This helps the provider understand any health issues you hope to resolve with acupuncture, so they can create the best treatment plan for you, usually collaboratively.
From there, you can undress, lie down on the treatment table and cover yourself with the sheets, just as you would prepare for a traditional massage. The practitioner can also provide you with a gown to wear over your underwear.
You may feel nothing or slight discomfort when the needles are placed in the skin, but there should be no pain once the needles are in place. “If the pain persists, let the practitioner know,” says Chu.
Although you should not feel pain, you should feel some deep pain or pressure in the areas where the needles were inserted. This deep pain means the needles have been inserted at just the right level in the fascia to stimulate the acupuncture point. “Sometimes I ask patients for feedback because I want to make sure I’m in the right place,” Sheinberg says.
Acupuncture sessions can last from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the purpose of your visit and the provider’s practice style. Forty-five to 60 minutes is pretty typical, Sheinberg says.
Additionally, you may feel sleepy or dizzy after your acupuncture session. “It is encouraged to drink lukewarm water or tea afterward,” says Chu.
Before leaving the clinic, check your body to make sure all acupuncture needles have been removed. “It’s rare, but sometimes acupuncture needles are left in unintentionally,” says Chu. Don’t worry if you find a needle; just inform the practitioner and they will remove it.
The results of acupuncture are usually not immediate. It may take several months of weekly treatments to see lasting changes, depending on the desired result. Some short-term effects may indicate that acupuncture sessions are working. One sign is that you notice slight improvements in your symptoms. Oddly enough, the other is a worsening of symptoms. “Actually, it’s not a bad sign if you feel worse after acupuncture,” says Sheinberg. “It means we made something happen.”
On the other hand, if you don’t notice any changes following acupuncture, it may indicate that you haven’t hit the right acupuncture points yet. “Like everything in medicine, there’s a bit of experimentation to find what works best for a person,” Sheinberg says. Take note of how you feel after your acupuncture sessions and share this information with the practitioner at the next appointment. This will help the practitioner refine your treatment.
