“Is it normal to feel worse after acupuncture?”
I am a 40-year-old female and I felt worse after my acupuncture treatment. Is it normal to feel worse after acupuncture?
28 Answers
AcupuncturistAcupuncture
no.
Did you overeat? Were you dehydrated? Fatigue? Many factors can worsen your experience.
Sometime people have what we call a healing crisis after the first treatment where they feel worse for a short time. It should pass quickly. If you feel worse after the second or third treatment, tell your practitioner because they need to change what they are doing.
Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo
Acupuncturist
It happens in rare occasions with very deficient/weak patients... but to happen consistently, over many treatments, every time, that would be strange to me. Are you sure your practitioner has the full training in acupuncture and isn't a physical therapist, chiropractor, or doctor posing as an acupuncturist? Their training is quite less than ours and I would say they are not really practicing acupuncture.
It’s rare that someone feels like this.
Depending on different patients and different problems. For some patients with pain problems, it could feel worse the next day, but will feel better after one or two days.
Yes, sometimes that happens. Related to body condition, age, sensitivity, and how much medicine you are taking.
It is important to eat two hours before the acupuncture treatment for balanced blood sugar levels. The treatment will set and hold better, and the patient is less likely to get dizzy or lightheaded after the treatment.
While most people notice a marked improvement in their symptoms following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better. In natural medicine circles, this is sometimes referred to as a healing crisis. The idea is that as your body starts undergoing the changes involved in moving toward health, things get stirred up. This can cause not only an exacerbation of current symptoms but also the recurrence of previous ailments that had been dormant.
While most people notice a marked improvement in their symptoms following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better. In natural medicine circles, this is sometimes referred to as a healing crisis. The idea is that as your body starts undergoing the changes involved in moving toward health, things get stirred up. This can cause not only an exacerbation of current symptoms but also the recurrence of previous ailments that had been dormant.
Healing is not always a linear process. Sometimes acupuncture can help an ailment by strengthening the body so that it can "push" the ailment out. For example, someone might experience a worsening of nasal drippage or coughing after getting treatment for a chest cold. The treatment is meant to push the cold up and out of the body, allowing the person to then be treated of the cold. However, acupuncture should not induce any new symptoms nor should you feel worse for more than a few days. If you feel worse for more then a few days, then there may be something else going on unrelated to the acupuncture or the treatment may have been too strong (i.e. too many needles, too much manipulation, etc). If that is the case, please let your practitioner know. Again, sometimes feeling that the symptoms are a little worse for a day or two is normal - and you should feel better then you did prior to treatment after that.
Occasionally it can happen. You must talk to your acupuncturist however and let them know. It’s possible your treatment was too strong.
Sometimes, especially with muscle releasing, you may feel more sore after your treatment. The pain/soreness should subside over the next day or so. If it does not, be sure to tell your practitioner on your next visit. They should be able to change up the treatment plan. Like any medical modality, there is some 'trial and error' involved.
Great question. While everyone has differing reactions to their first acupuncture treatment, holistic healing, in general, sometimes we must get worse temporarily, to get better. It’s like a dam that ruptures. When we initially move the water past the obstruction, the pressure releases, which is stressful to the system at play. However, with persistence and consistency, removal of toxic substances like nutritional and pharm-hinderances, we are able to function at a more optimal level!
It is important to be informed and to inform your practitioner about how you are feeling. There is a saying:"Sometimes the pain gets worse before it gets better." However, it is important to speak with your practitioner so he can modify the treatment accordingly. Reducing the duration, Electro vs no electro-acupuncture, need to be explored in regard to the therapy. Laying down with or without a pillow if working on the back, knees more support... Maybe sitting is a better position for you. Please, communicate with your practitioner so he can explore how he can better assist you.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Hi,
Sometimes some patients may feel worse after the treatment for 1 or 2 days, like having a good workout.
Scott Sang In Lee
Sometimes some patients may feel worse after the treatment for 1 or 2 days, like having a good workout.
Scott Sang In Lee
No.
Glenn R. Williams, D.C., L.Ac.
Glenn R. Williams, D.C., L.Ac.
Yes sometimes you may feel worse after acupuncture especially if dealing with pain. If there are blockages in the body, it may take some time to smooth the Qi out. Linda
Hi! While I would not say feeling worse is normal, I would say it’s not unheard of. This is a phenomenon that can happen in certain conditions that entail more stagnation than others. In different words, where the circulation of blood and energy is not moving well. It’s as though there’s a blockage preventing the normal flow and the acupuncture treatment is promoting circulation, because healthy circulation means healthy functioning of the organs and various tissues. When we increase the flow of blood and energy via the needles it can cause some discomfort if there are blockages presenting resistance. The discomfort only indicates that the body is attempting to restore normal flow, and more treatment is required to accomplish that. Hope this helps!
Occasionally, yes, before you feel better.
If they put a lot of needles, you can feel a little tired after the section. Your body is working on the healing process.
Sometimes you can feel worse as your body detoxes from the treatment.
It depends on your condition. It is not uncommon to feel sore or fatigued after treatments, and sometimes your condition may worsen before it improves. However, if you leave every treatment feeling worse than when you walked in, that style of acupuncture or that practitioner may not be the right fit for you. I urge you not to give up on acupuncture but would recommend talking to your practitioner about it, or exploring other options in practitioners and styles in your area.
While most people notice a marked improvement in their symptoms following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better. In natural medicine circles, this is sometimes referred to as a healing crisis. The idea is that as your body starts undergoing the changes involved in moving toward health, things get stirred up. This can cause not only an exacerbation of current symptoms, but also the recurrence your self-healing ailment that had been dormant. Acupuncture awakens your self-healing capabilities. With that can come an onslaught of bodily awareness. This usually is a positive experience, but it also can mean heightened sensitivity or intolerance for things that previously felt normal. An example of this is someone who unconsciously adapts to stress by tightening and hunching up his shoulders. After an acupuncture treatment, once this person's bodily felt sense has been woken up, his milk upper back and neck tension might start screaming. The good news about this side effect is that it's a sign that things are moving. In the case of acupuncture, this means the primary objective is being met. That is, you are starting to transition on multiple levels from stuck to unstuck.
Hi,
Yes, it is since the body is detoxing itself (though it depends what the acu treatment was for).
Yes, it is since the body is detoxing itself (though it depends what the acu treatment was for).
I don't know what you mean by worse and I don't know what you were being treated for, but there are times when a condition seems to get exacerbated after a treatment. This can be the result of many things, depending on the issue or condition being treated. In some cases, like fatigue, the patient could be more tired after the treatment, but then later it gets better as the patient rested. There can be more pain after a treatment of pain, but the pain will more quickly go away after the treatment day (a day or two later is gone completely). Both of these are an example of the treatment releasing something in the body that first made it seem worse, but was actually an improvement in the long run. Be sure to tell your practitioner what happened so they can assess.
The patient could feel worse after acupuncture, but it is uncommon. Think this way, if you feel worse, something is beginning to change, but it will not happen all the time, each case is different.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Yes, for some patients, they will feel worse after feeling better. This is due to the body getting adjusted to the acupuncture treatment.
Thank you for your inquiry. No, it is not normal to feel that after acupuncture, it means something went wrong with the treatment.
Acupuncture does have some after effects like lightheadedness or tiredness, which can sometimes occur. Usually, having a meal either just before or just after treatment will alleviate those issues. Without knowing what you were being treated for and what you felt post treatment, it's hard to say, but generally, no, we don't expect people to feel worse after acupuncture. I have two suggestions:
1. There are a lot of providers in the US currently who are providing acupuncture-like treatments without having attended school for Chinese medicine. These people are well intentioned, but do not have a full grasp of Chinese diagnostics. If you happened to see someone who is not licensed as an acupuncturist in your state, I recommend you start with NCCAOM.org's "Find a Practitioner" look up and find a board certified, state licensed acupuncturist in your area.
2. If you did see a provider who is licensed as an acupuncturist, talk to them and give them feedback about how your treatment went and what you felt like afterwards. This may help them to adjust their diagnosis and make the next treatment more effective for you.
1. There are a lot of providers in the US currently who are providing acupuncture-like treatments without having attended school for Chinese medicine. These people are well intentioned, but do not have a full grasp of Chinese diagnostics. If you happened to see someone who is not licensed as an acupuncturist in your state, I recommend you start with NCCAOM.org's "Find a Practitioner" look up and find a board certified, state licensed acupuncturist in your area.
2. If you did see a provider who is licensed as an acupuncturist, talk to them and give them feedback about how your treatment went and what you felt like afterwards. This may help them to adjust their diagnosis and make the next treatment more effective for you.
