What to Expect After Your Acupuncture Treatment

Have you just scheduled your first acupuncture appointment and are wondering what to expect afterwards? Or maybe you’ve already had your appointment and now you’re wondering if what you’re feeling is normal. There is a lot to be said about the health benefits of acupuncture, but it isn’t a magic bullet that instantly resolves all your health woes. Like any medical treatment, it takes time to work and there can be some mild and temporary side effects. To help you better prepare and manage expectations, we’re going to go over what the week or two after your acupuncture treatment might look like, why you might feel worse before you feel better, and provide some general tips for after care. 

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that uses very thin needles inserted into your skin to stimulate and regulate the flow of your vital energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”). Imbalance and stagnation of Qi manifest in the physical symptoms of illness and disease. These dysregulations of energy can be treated through applied stimulation of acupoints along natural pathways in your body called meridians. 

Acupuncture is a holistic treatment that aims not to simply treat symptoms, but to improve whole-body health and wellness. Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches the body as a series of interconnected systems that work in concert to promote wellness and harmony, both physically and spiritually. As this approach focuses on supporting your body’s natural healing processes, there’s very little that can’t be treated, remedied, or prevented with regular acupuncture treatments. 

Acupuncture triggers the release of biochemicals like endorphins and corticosteroids. These biochemicals will produce a general feeling of wellbeing, but that’s not the only effect of acupuncture. The treatment also detoxifies your system, working to remove blockages and stagnation, as well as invading pathogens that may be causing imbalance. It’s normal to experience some flu-like symptoms in reaction to this process.  

During the first few hours 

In the first 24-to-48 hours after acupuncture, you can expect to feel very relaxed. This feeling can persist through the week afterwards. Any symptoms you sought treatment for should start to lessen immediately, although they will take longer to fully resolve. You’re also going to have a very deep and refreshing night of sleep the first night or two after treatment. 

Something else that’s commonly reported is feeling a bit sore or heavy in the areas where needles were inserted. This is an indication that the therapeutic process started during your treatment’s rest period is still effect. 

During the first week 

During the first week post-treatment, you’ll notice an even further reduction of symptoms. You can expect this to last for several weeks, although it should be noted that most treatment protocols involve more than one acupuncture session to fully resolve any health conditions. If you’re seeking treatment for a chronic condition, the reduction of symptoms won’t be as pronounced after the first session and will build gradually as you progress through your treatment protocol. During the time between appointments, it’s important to monitor or log your symptoms. This information will allow your acupuncturist to adjust your treatment protocol to be even more effective. 

Additionally, acupuncture greatly reduces the levels of stress hormones in your bloodstream. So, you are likely to feel generally more relaxed with a greater sense of overall wellbeing. For this reason, you may see improvement in other areas that you hadn’t sought treatment for, like improved sleep quality and digestion. 

A big reason that your acupuncturist will ask you to monitor your symptoms is that some people may experience flu-like symptoms in the immediate aftermath of acupuncture treatment. For those who do experience this reaction, symptoms may include fatigue, soreness or achiness, runny nose, headaches, or sore throat. This can happen as your body works to flush out the toxins that have built up in your body because of blockages and stagnation of Qi and blood. 

Another reason is that the reduction of stress hormones in your system will have some of your bodily functions working at full capacity again. When we experience stress response, this causes a slowdown of digestion and more importantly immune response. As immune activity kicks up again, you may experience flu-like symptoms as lingering viruses and bacteria are cleared out. 

After your appointment, you can resume your normal routine. Your acupuncturist will go over anything you should do or avoid, but for the most part it won’t be anything major. 

Avoid strenuous activity 

It is recommended that you take it easy the rest of the day after receiving acupuncture treatment. If you plan to work out that day, it is best to do so before your appointment. It’s especially recommended that you avoid strenuous activity for at least 30 minutes after your appointment. 

Stay hydrated 

After acupuncture, be mindful to drink enough water throughout your day as the treatment will have helped flush toxins out of your system. Depending on the reason for your treatment, your acupuncturist may recommend a specific kind of herbal tea to drink in the days following. 

Monitor any symptoms 

Sometimes people feel a little worse before they feel better after their treatment. It may take some time for your body to process the changes in energy flow. Keeping track of any symptoms you experience after treatment can be extremely helpful to your acupuncturist, allowing them to adjust your treatment protocol. If you are concerned about any of the symptoms you are experiencing, reach out to your acupuncturist. 

Follow any personalized aftercare instructions 

Depending on what your chief complaint is, your acupuncturist may give you personalized aftercare instructions. It’s important that you follow these instructions as they will help to bolster the efficacy of your treatment. 

Now that you have a better understanding of what to expect after acupuncture treatment, book your first appointment with Maisy! You can find more about the different options and pricing on the services page.