Acupuncture Didn’t Work? This Could Be Why.
Sometimes folks share with me that they’ve tried acupuncture before but it didn’t work, leading them to skepticism about the medicine and apprehension about trying it again. On one hand, these feelings make perfect sense. Why put time and money into something that didn’t produce results? On the other hand, I find myself curious about this statement and inquiring a bit further.
How many treatments did you have?
More times than not, those who haven’t had success with acupuncture report they received a total of one or two treatments. The truth is, if you’ve had a condition for years, its most likely going to take more than a handful of treatments to see changes. I like to work with someone weekly for a minimum of three months for most chronic conditions. Regular check-ins, herbs, acupuncture and lifestyle changes are crucial to the outcomes of Chinese medicine. Is that to say you wont feel any changes for months? No! Many people report slow and gradual change over time, with feelings of relaxation, decreased pain and better sleep for days after their treatments.
Keep in mind, acupuncturists are looking to treat the root cause of your concerns. This takes patience and time. We want you to feel better for the long haul. Is it possible to have a concern go away with one treatment? Yes! Acute conditions often respond quickly to treatment. I’ve helped cold and flu pass with less intensity and shorter duration. I’ve also released muscle spasms after injury and stopped headache and menstrual pain in its tracks. It all just depends on the person and their unique situation.
Real Talk: Chronic issues that have been around for years, take time to heal. If someone breaks a bone, you wouldn’t expect that bone to heal over night, right? We shouldn’t expect things like digestive problems, menstrual irregularities, etc. to heal over night either. While acupuncturists do work to decrease symptoms with every treatment, we are also working to prevent the problem from returning. Its worth the commitment!
Who did the treatment?
One thing that is often unknown by patients is that there are many different lineages within Chinese medicine. This means that there are many different ways to practice. We often refer to this as having a “style” in which we like to practice. Some styles involve deep, intense needling. Other styles are gentle, sometimes without needles and some are more bodywork or herb focused. Most practitioners are trained in multiple, and can adjust to their patients needs. Others choose to specialize in one. All approaches are valid and effective but the caveat here is not all styles are for everyone. Maybe your concern would benefit from a gentle bodywork focus, or perhaps your concern calls for additional internal alchemy that herbalism can support. Or maybe both!
Finding a practitioner who you resonate with is an important part of the medicine. Not only is the way they practice important, but their personality as well. Chinese medicine involves a working relationship with practitioner and patient. We collaborate with you to make lifestyle changes that improve long term outcomes. Who wants to work with someone they don’t vibe with that much? Not me! Doing so may lead to a dip in motivation or discontinuing the treatment plan all together. We don’t want that. Its worth it to take the time to research the website of a practitioner, get a referral from a friend or even email a practitioner to better understand their approach.
Something else to consider is if you received acupuncture by a Licensed Acupuncturist. In other states, Chiropractors and Physical Therapists can practice what is known as “dry needling.” The word dry needling often gets interchanged with acupuncture by non-acupuncturists, though, its important to note that dry needling is NOT acupuncture or Chinese medicine. Licensed Acupuncturist apply Chinese medical theory to acupuncture techniques. Additionally, dry needling is often done aggressively, with larger needles, to elicit a response from a muscle. This works great for some, providing relief from pain, but for others, this is too intense for the nervous system and should be avoided. Additionally, Licensed Acupuncturist look for the root cause of your concern, combining multiple modalities like bodywork, herbs and nutrition to prevent the problem from returning.
My Advice: When it comes to acupuncture and Chinese medicine, receive care from a Licensed Acupuncturist who has 4+ years of post-graduate education in the history, culture, technique and theory of this medicine.
What are your expectations?
It’s also important to have a practitioner you connect with so you both can have an open discussion about the expectations of your care. Were you diagnosed with a degenerative condition and experiencing pain? While the ultimate goal may be to have zero pain, some conditions may actually fall into the “pain management” category. This means that regular treatments may be needed long term. In pain management cases we may be able to decrease the pain significantly and maybe even get you to days of no pain. Can we “cure” you of the degenerative condition thats causing the pain? Unfortunately not. Though magical, Chinese medicine is not magic. It has its limitations just like any other medical system. Your practitioner may encourage you to shift your expectations to less pain, rather than no pain. You may even find that going from a level 9/10 pain to a level 3/10 pain, though not fully absent, significantly improves your quality of life. Its important everyone is on the same page and is open to a shift in expectations!
The take away.
If you didn’t have the best results with acupuncture, don’t give up just yet. Take the time to find someone who you enjoy working with, who’s treatments leave you feeling hopeful, rested and empowered. Also be sure your practitioner wants to collaborate with you and address your concerns from all angles. This includes calling in the expertise of other practitioners if needed! And lastly, be sure to commit fully and wholeheartedly. The process of long term healing is not linear. Sometimes it ebbs and flows and at one point you may even doubt its worth the effort. Know that your practitioner is here to guide and support you through your healing journey.
At the end of the day, Im realistic. Maybe you’ve checked all the boxes I mentioned above and still didn’t have results with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Thats okay! Sometimes a certain method helps one person and doesn’t help another. We are all unique individuals who respond to medicine differently. That being said, be sure to practice mindfulness when speaking about your experience with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. When we make a general statement like “acupuncture doesn’t work,” we disregard those it did help. We also insult an entire lineage and culture of people who for thousands of years have found health through these methods. In a world that often reinforces black and white thinking, let us remain compassionate and embrace the multitude of avenues there are to wellness.
With care,
Kecia Fox, MSOM, LAc