The optimal length of an acupuncture session can vary greatly depending on the individual and the condition. As a general rule, we like patients to rest at least 30 minutes once the needles have been placed. Most of our patients rest somewhere between 40-60 minutes.
There are some patients who cannot sit still for longer than 20 minutes and some that are more than happy to take a two hour nap. These are both extreme examples, but most feel ‘done’ somewhere in the 40-60 minute range.
One of the best ways to determine the optimal treatment time for you is to listen to your body’s signals. Most people will enter a relaxed state during their acupuncture treatment. At some point in the treatment, you will become more alert or wake up if you have fallen asleep. This is usually a good indicator that your body has gotten the rest it needs.
Sometimes a patient may feel more alert throughout the entire session. In this case, using the 30 minute minimum guideline is a good rule of thumb.
At Costa Acupuncture, we tell our patients to just simply open their eyes when they feel they are ready. Once we see a patient has opened their eyes, we will get back to them as soon as we can to take their needles out.
If a patient is face down on a treatment table, we will come by every once in a while to check on them. Typically, face down treatments tend to be a little shorter than ones performed in the face-up position because patients will sometime become uncomfortable for a variety of reasons.
In our experience, following these general guidelines produces the best results. Every individual is unique, has different needs, and generally knows what those are better than anyone else.