In most cases, improvement can be seen within several treatments, usually up to 5 treatments.

Most people need about 10–12 treatments, usually once a week. It is important to see improvement after 4–5 treatments to know that we are on the right track. The number of treatments varies depending on the problem, the length of time the person has had it, and the patient’s age.

Typically, patients come for treatment once a week. In more severe cases, two treatments per week may be necessary.

Chinese medicine treatment includes several key tools: acupuncture (which is the main tool I use), dietary adjustment according to the principles of Chinese medicine, and sometimes also medicinal herbs.

The acupuncture is felt when the needle is inserted, but is not painful. The needles are very thin, and most patients find the treatment relaxing.

There are usually no side effects, and if there are any, they are very mild. Sometimes there may be fatigue after the treatment or a small hemorrhage in the puncture area, which rarely occurs.

Yes. All needles are disposable, sterile, and open in place.

No. The goal is to reach a point where the digestive problem does not impair quality of life. After that, the treatments can be gradually increased. Some patients choose to come for maintenance treatment once a month, and some do not need further treatment.

It depends on the situation. There are cases where medication can be reduced or discontinued, but it is important that the treating physician be in the picture and approve the reduction or discontinuation of the medication. There are cases where it is necessary to continue medication treatment in parallel with acupuncture.

If the drug treatment provides a complete response and there are no symptoms that interfere with quality of life, there is no need to add acupuncture. Acupuncture is appropriate when the drug treatment is not effective enough, when there are still symptoms that interfere with quality of life, when you want to stop the drug treatment (with the approval of the treating physician) or when you want to avoid switching to stronger medications.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, but in the West it has only come into relatively widespread use in recent decades. In recent years, many studies have shown that acupuncture is effective for a variety of digestive problems, including irritable bowel syndrome, reflux, difficulty controlling bowel movements, Crohn's disease, hemorrhoids, and dyspepsia. Today, many doctors refer patients for this treatment. Personally, I work closely with gastroenterologists and proctologists.

Yes. This is a very common condition, especially in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Acupuncture focuses on improving digestive function and reducing nervous system hypersensitivity, even when there is no clear finding on tests.

Treatment is personalized for each patient based on their Chinese medicine diagnosis, symptoms, and medical history. Even if two patients have the same problem, the treatment will likely be different.