Acupuncture textbooks list well over one hundred different conditions that respond well to the treatment. The number of treatments vary with different conditions and individuals. Chronic problems generally require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas others may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. It's been shown that a certain percentage of patients receive maximum benefit from six months to a year or more following a course of therapy.
Researchers internationally agree the usual number of treatments is between eight and sixteen.
The usual frequency is between two and four times a week. For acute problems where there has been little or no organ system or tissue damage, results are often permanent. For chronic conditions, symptoms may recur from time to time. Generally a few additional treatments are sufficient to obtain relief. It's suggested that patients with severe or chronic conditions return for a booster treatment two or three times a year.