Naturally, many people new to acupuncture often feel anxious and are curious of what to expect from the treatments. As with any treatment, many patients ask, “How do you know if acupuncture is working?” Here are 4 positive signs to notice when you’re undergoing acupuncture.
How Do You Know if Acupuncture is Working?
1. Your Body Awareness Shifts
Needle insertions will make you very aware of your body in the moment, but this self-awareness can transfer over to your daily life. Acupuncture can help you become more conscious of how your body feels, even after the session is over. You might notice sensations you’ve never been aware of before, such as tension. Many times, we become accustomed to pain or stress and simply regard it as a natural part of life. But you’ll be able to feel everything more clearly, which will allow you to address any pain or tension that you tolerated before.
2. Your Sleep Quality Gets Better
For many patients, one of the changes they notice is that they sleep more soundly, especially the day after their first treatment. Your sleep patterns might also change. If you have a tendency to sleep in, you might find that your body wakes you up earlier.
However, a lot of factors affect your quality of sleep so you may or may not notice a change in this area.
3. Your Mood Improves
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, your practitioner is not only treating your body but also your mind. They function as one unit and are interconnected in many different ways. Many individuals find that they store tension in their muscles, whether the stress is in their back, eyebrows, or another part of their body. Acupuncture sessions are often soothing and relaxing, and the needles themselves can help release dopamine and serotonin. This can chip away at built-up tension in your body. Coming in for a session every week can be your form of self-care.
4. Your Pain Changes
This is one of the biggest goals your acupuncturist has in mind when you come in for your treatments. Your pain might change in how intense or severe it is, or the location of the pain might have shifted. At times, it’s possible that your pain might have disappeared during the acupuncture session only to reappear a few hours or days later. The more treatments you get, the longer your pain-free window will last.
Another possibility is that you’ve reached a plateau with your pain—or it’s temporarily gotten worse. Believe it or not, these changes can be good signs that you’re on your way to healing.
While progress might be gradual, the results will come in time. Above all, focusing on how your body feels after the sessions and having patience is important. Communicating with your acupuncturist about your pain levels is also important so they can make treatment adjustments as necessary. If you still have questions about acupuncture, feel free to call our office at 305-456-1014!