This is a follow up from our most frequently read blog post, Nine things you should know before Acupuncture. Because we receive so many great questions, both online and here in the clinic, so here are the 9 most common questions that we hear from patients.
1) How much does acupuncture cost?
I am going come back to this one and answer it at the end of the post because it will make more sense after addressing some of the other questions. I know that this question is on everyone’s mind, I even made a video about it. If you just can’t wait, go ahead and watch the video and then come back to the article.
2) How long does it take for acupuncture to work?
Most of our patients feel a shift right away during acupuncture . This can feel like deep relaxation, reduced pain, better sleep, or a sense of well-being. Generally within the first 24 hours, you will feel a response, even if it’s a slight improvement in pain, or deeper sleep. I always ask patients to pay attention to your body during your first 24 hours after treatment. Notice what you feel, and let your acupuncturist know at your next appointment what you experienced so that we can fine tune your care.
3) How long do acupuncture needles stay in?
So the textbook standard time to keep acupuncture needles in is 23 minutes. This is time it takes for the Qi to flow throughout all of the acupuncture points in the body. This allows the acupuncture therapy to have maximum benefit. The optimal treatment for a specific patient is as individual as they are. Sometimes we want a shorter retention time, somewhere like 8 to 12 minutes for certain cases. Younger patients’ bodies in particular usually respond faster so our younger patients have a shorter retention time, maybe something 15-20 minutes. For chronic pain or more complex cases (my specialty) a longer needle retention, 35 to 45 minutes can deepen the therapeutic effect. The other factor in determining optimal needle retention time is how long it takes you to relax. Some patients they get into the flow of their session right away, and other patients take a good 5 or 10 minutes to relax. The average time patients at Orlando Acupuncture have needles in for is about 30 to 35 minutes, which gives your body enough time to recharge deeply, enjoy treatment, and get all of the benefits.
4) How many sessions does it take for acupuncture to work?
This depends on what we are treating and how long you have had the condition. While patients may see some improvement after one visit, lasting physiological change usually requires a course of treatment – typically 8-20 sessions to get significant or lasting benefits. Because I specialize in fertility, chronic pain and complex cases, most of my patients are coming in to treat something that’s been there for a long time or it involves several different organ systems. In these cases one or two sessions is just not going to produce the results they are looking for. There is not a specific number of treatments that produces results for everybody. To give you an idea, expect that for chronic pain, every year a problem has been there it may take a month to treat it. For fertility, IVF support, and hormone balancing you should expect a treatment plan at least 3-6 months to get optimal results.
5) How many acupuncture points are there?
There are approximately 365 acupuncture points on the body in modern Chinese medicine terminology and textbooks. If that number sounds familiar, it is because it mirrors the number of days in a year. Chinese medicine understands that the body is deeply connected to natural rhythms: circadian cycles, seasonal shifts, and even hourly energy flows.
During a single session at Orlando Acupuncture, we typically use 8–14 points, chosen not just for your symptoms, but for your unique pattern of imbalance. So your treatments are precise, intentional, and timed to work with your quantum biology.
6) How often should I get acupuncture?
This is another question that varies quite a bit depending upon both the patient and the results that you are looking for. Frequency is the key to changing physiology. For most cases at Orlando Acupuncture, the average frequency is once or twice per week. This is what is needed to really change someone’s physiology and improve the body’s function. Treatment frequency, done over a period of time is a big part of why we get such consistent, excellent outcomes for our patients. For some patients, such as more significant or debilitating pain, a higher frequency of at least three times a week is better. For a few cases such as post stroke or a degenerative eye disease, acupuncture treatment four or five times a week is recommended to get the best results. The effects of acupuncture continue long after you leave the office. We want these changes to still be ongoing when we “layer” on the next treatment. This is how we can see consistent clinical success.
7) How often should I do acupuncture for maintenance?
Most of our patients feel AMAZING after completing their initial treatment plan. Research shows that acupuncture can modulate stress response, boost immunity, and improve healing and resilience. Maintenance is a balancing act: How much stress is in your life vs. how much support do you need to mitigate it?
Once or twice a month is right for most people to do maintenance acupuncture.
If you have done acupuncture elsewhere or with us, or you are just in town visiting, you might qualify for our VIP maintenance program. This is for patients who are feeling well, and want to maintain and optimize their health. Maintenance visits can be done once month or once a week depending upon the circumstances. So we will work with you to find your optimal acupuncture maintenance schedule
8) Can I get acupuncture when I’m pregnant?
Yes! We love helping our patients have successful and healthy pregnancies. Acupuncture is fantastic for treating common pregnancy symptoms without medication, including:
- Back and pelvic pain
- Nausea (Morning Sickness)
- Reflux and heartburn
- Anxiety and fatigue
Make sure your acupuncturist specializes in prenatal care. There are certain points (such as those on the abdomen) that we generally avoid during pregnancy.
9) Should I come to acupuncture when I’m sick?
Yes. Acupuncture has been used very effectively for centuries to treat colds, flus, and viral infections. Acupuncture has been proven to boost the immune system and help you to feel better, and recover much faster.
If you are too sick to come to the office, stay home and schedule an online telemedicine visit with us. We can prescribe antiviral herbal therapies to help speed up your recovery.
The cost of Acupuncture explained:
Don’t worry, I didn’t skip question number one, how much does acupuncture cost? The cost of acupuncture can range from $35 at a student clinic to $350 per session with an experienced acupuncturist. The acupuncture treatment itself will vary patient to patient, and doctor to doctor. One factor in the cost of treatment is geography, with some cities being more or less expensive than others. Another important factor is quality. The style, effectiveness, and cost of acupuncture will vary based on clinical skill, area of specialty, and success rate. The last significant driver of cost is the specific therapies used. Acupuncture is the most well known, but only one facet of Chinese Medicine. This complete medical system includes many therapies such as herbal medicine, infrared therapy, therapeutic exercise, and gasotransmitter therapy, or breathwork. All of these can provide great results, and all have different costs.
At Orlando Acupuncture we also know that time is precious, so we work with our patients to curate an efficient, cost effective treatment plan that delivers real results. Chinese medicine is usually less expensive, and less invasive than western medicine. In modern times insurance may cover other treatments, so acupuncture is not necessarily the least expensive out-of-pocket option. However, because acupuncture and Chinese medicine can bring holistic healing, and get to the root cause of disease as opposed to sending you home with a medication that creates a change on the surface, but doesn’t really get to the root cause of the problem, many patients find that Chinese Medicine and acupuncture are well worth the additional expense.
If you’re curious if acupuncture is right for you or how much a treatment plan might cost for your case reach out to Orlando Acupuncture or your local acupuncturist and see if acupuncture or Chinese Medicine may be able to help you.