Can acupuncture be done continuously?

Acupuncture is a relatively traditional Chinese medical treatment method, which mainly achieves its therapeutic effect through acupoints. Now more and more people choose acupuncture treatment to improve their physical condition. However, since everyone's physical condition and constitution are different, acupuncture should be based on individual circumstances, otherwise it will be counterproductive and cause adverse reactions. So can acupuncture be done continuously?

How long does acupuncture last?

Because each person's symptoms and physical condition are different, the time for acupuncture is also different. The time for acupuncture should be determined by the doctor. The needle retention time is generally about 15-20 minutes.

How often can acupuncture be performed?

The doctor will determine it based on each person's specific situation! Generally speaking, once a day or every other day is enough. Five to seven times is a course of treatment, and more than three courses can be done in a row.

Acupuncture is a treatment method just like taking medicine. Some people take medicine once a day, some twice a day, and some multiple times a day. This is because a certain concentration of medicine is required for the body to produce its therapeutic effect, which is the main reason for determining the number of times to take medicine.

Another point is to see the severity of the disease. If the disease is mild, the dosage and frequency of medication can be reduced, while if the disease is severe, the dosage and frequency of medication should be increased. The same goes for acupuncture. The number of acupuncture treatments should be chosen based on the severity of the condition.

Generally speaking, for mild cases, it can be taken once a day. If time does not permit, it can be taken once every two days or once every three days.

Studies have shown that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture can last up to 72 hours after one session. If it is just for conditioning during the recovery period after an illness, it can be done twice a week or even once a week. For serious conditions, acupuncture may be required several times a day, and some may require the needles to be left in for 24 hours.

How long does acupuncture last?

Let me tell you the conclusion first. How long do you want to stay? See a doctor.

Because the purpose of treatment is different, the length of acupuncture will be different. But Chinese medicine books record: 28.8 minutes at a time.

That is what is said, but if we follow the record of the Bible of Chinese medicine - Huangdi Neijing, in the Lingshu of Huangdi Neijing, it says: "Huangdi said: I would like to know what the fifty camps are. Qi Bo replied: ... in 13,500 breaths, the Qi will circulate in the body in fifty camps."

Indeed, if we calculate based on 24 hours a day, 24hrs=1440mins, 1440/50=28.8mins

This is the ideal state. One acupuncture session takes 28.8 minutes to allow the meridian qi to circulate throughout the body.

The time for each acupoint is different

However, starting from the "Acupuncture and Moxibustion Jia Yi Jing" by Huangfu Mi in the Jin Dynasty, the depth, dosage, and needle retention time of each acupoint were written. For example, in the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Classic, Volume 3, Various Acupoints, it is written…

There is a point called Shangxing, which is located on the top of the skull, directly in the center of the nose. It is one inch into the hairline and is sunken, large enough to hold a bean. It is where the Qi of the Du meridian is emitted. Insert the needle three fen deep, leave it there for six breaths, and then moxibustion for three times.

Luoque, also known as Qiangyang and Naogai, is located one inch and three fen behind Tongtian, where the Qi of the Foot Taiyang Meridian is emitted. Insert the needle three fen deep, leave it for five breaths, and moxibustion three times.

There are records on many acupoints about how long they should be kept.

However, this leads to many problems. The breathing rate of each person is different, and it is also different for adults and children, which makes it very difficult to operate clinically...

This issue has affected people for a long time. Some acupuncturists emphasize leaving the needles in for a long time, some require removing the needles as soon as qi is felt, and some doctors will treat according to the time recorded in classics.