During an acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist inserts very thin needles into specific points on your body. Insertion of needles usually causes little discomfort.

Each specialist who practices acupuncture has his or her own unique style and often blends approaches from Eastern and Western medicine. Your specialist may ask you questions about your symptoms, behaviors, and lifestyle to determine the type of acupuncture treatment that will help you most.

It may also take a closer look at:

• Painful parts of your body
  
• The shape, coating and color of your tongue
• the color of your face
• Strength, rhythm and quality of the pulse at your wrist
• Your body weight, age and medical history

This initial evaluation and treatment usually takes about half an hour. A single complaint treatment plan usually includes one or two sessions per week. The number of treatment sessions will depend on the condition being treated and its severity. In general, it is recommended to receive six to eight treatments.

Can Acupuncture Help You Lose Weight?

For example, in a 2018 review in the Chinese medical journal; 27 clinical trials involving 2,219 patients have proven that although acupuncture alone is not very effective for weight loss, it is promising when applied together with lifestyle changes, especially in people who are overweight but not obese.

In another clinical study, researchers concluded that acupuncture may help diabetics lose weight by reducing insulin and leptin resistance; Both insulin and leptin are appetite-regulating hormones that may play a role in long-term weight loss.

Acupuncture supports healthy digestion.

Some researchers talk about another effect of acupuncture on metabolism as follows. ” It improves blood flow to the stomach, which helps digestion. They say, "It reduces bloating, gas, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, acupuncture is good for all kinds of digestive complaints" and that the metabolism will accelerate and fat burning will increase.

During application

• Acupuncture points are located all over the body. Sometimes the appropriate points are too far from the area where you have pain. Our acupuncturist will tell you the general area of treatment planned and whether you need to remove any clothing. A gown, towel or sheet will be provided. For treatment, you lie on a padded table.
  
• Needle placement. Acupuncture needles are inserted into strategic points on your body at various depths. The needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little discomfort. People often do not feel them being applied at all. In one treatment session, several needles or permanent ear pins are applied. You may feel a slight pain when a needle reaches the correct depth.
  
• Needle turns. After inserting the needles, the physical therapist may gently move or rotate the needles and apply heat or mild electrical stimulation to the needles.
• Needle removal. In most cases, the needles remain in place for 5 to 10 minutes while you lie still and relax. There is usually no discomfort when the needles are removed.