Why One Session Is Rarely Enough

How Many Acupuncture Sessions Will I Need?

(And Why I Often Use the Antibiotic Analogy)

One of the most common questions I’m asked is:

“How many acupuncture sessions will I need?”

It’s a completely reasonable question. We live in a world of fast results and quick fixes, and when you don't feel well or something hurts or isn’t working properly, most people just want it sorted — yesterday. They want a magic pill.

Acupuncture does help people feel better, often quickly. But lasting change doesn’t usually happen in a single session. To explain why, I often use what I call the antibiotic analogy.

The Antibiotic Analogy: Why One Session Is Rarely Enough

If your GP prescribes a 7–10 day course of antibiotics, they give you very clear instructions:

Finish the full course — even if you feel better after a few days.

Why? Because the first dose doesn’t clear the infection. It reduces it enough for symptoms to ease. If you stop too early, the underlying issue hasn’t fully resolved — and the symptoms often come back, sometimes worse.

Acupuncture works in a very similar way.

One treatment can reduce pain, calm the nervous system, or improve sleep — but it doesn’t usually undo long-standing patterns in the body on its own. Each session builds on the last, reinforcing new signals to your nervous system and helping your body move out of its old “default” state of tension, stress, or imbalance. We are correcting the foundations BEFORE building on top.

I also see people stopping treatment too early - which often means the body simply slips back into those old patterns.

To get lasting results, most people need to complete a short “course” of acupuncture, not just try a single session.

So… How Many Sessions Do You Actually Need?

There’s no single answer — because bodies, histories, and conditions vary. However, treatment usually falls into two broad phases.

1. The Relief Phase (Acute Care)

This is the initial stage of treatment.

• Frequency: Usually 1–2 sessions per week

• Focus: Reducing symptoms and breaking the cycle of pain, tension, or dysfunction

• Typical length: Around 4-8 sessions

This is where many people notice the first real changes — pain easing, better sleep, improved movement, calmer mood. Think of this as the point where symptoms are being brought under control.

2. The Stabilisation Phase (Consolidation Care)

Once symptoms have clearly improved, we start spacing treatments out. We need to test it.

• Frequency: Fortnightly, then monthly

• Focus: Helping the body hold those improvements without constant input

• Typical length: A few months, depending on the condition

This phase is about making the changes stick — not just feeling better temporarily, but staying better. We will be guided by you - if you want to come more often - that's fine too!

A general rule of thumb:If a problem has been present for a long time, it usually takes consistent treatment over time to create deeper, more stable change. Having 2 or 3 sessions for a condition that you've had for 20 years and then saying it hasn't worked isn't really fair...

Managing Expectations: What Progress Really Looks Like

Healing isn’t always a straight line.

You might have a brilliant week followed by a slightly flatter one. Symptoms may shift, go backwards, change, or briefly flare as the nervous system recalibrates. This doesn’t mean treatment isn’t working — it’s often part of the process.

What matters most is the overall direction of travel, not day-to-day perfection.

Acupuncture Is a Partnership

While the treatment itself happens in the clinic, results are always better when it’s a collaborative process.

What you can expect from me:

• Honesty and transparency — if we’re not seeing meaningful change after a reasonable number of sessions (usually 6-8), we reassess the plan or discuss other options such as integrating massage, herbal medicine or referral to another therapist to work alongside. a multi pronged approach can be best - and we want whats best for you!

• Individualised care — treatments evolve as your body responds

• Clear guidance — so you understand what we’re aiming for and why

What I need from you:

• Feedback — tell me how long relief lasted, did it last a few hours or a few days? Did the symptoms change - if so how!? (even small things matter)

• Consistency — front-loading treatment early on gives the best chance of lasting results

• Realistic expectations — acupuncture supports your body’s ability to heal; it doesn’t override it overnight

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Acupuncture Isn’t a Quick Fix — It’s an Investment

Acupuncture isn’t about masking symptoms for a day or two. It’s about teaching your body how to regulate itself better — whether that’s pain, stress, hormones, digestion, or recovery from injury.

Like antibiotics, it works best when you commit to the full course, not just the first dose.

If you’re ready to approach your health with that mindset, acupuncture can be a powerful and lasting part of your ongoing care.