An article intended for practitioners of Chinese medicine:

In my opinion, at least in the field of gastroenterology, it is sufficient to see a patient once a week (except in severe cases). On the other hand, in my experience, it is important to make sure to see the patient every week and no less until the desired improvement is achieved.

Since I like research, I looked into the matter a bit.

In a study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, they examined the effect of acupuncture on dyspepsia (a syndrome similar to irritable bowel syndrome) and divided the patients into two groups: a group that received treatment once a week and a group that received 3 treatments a week.

Patients who received 3 treatments per week improved significantly compared to those who received one treatment per week and also maintained the improvement over time. The full study is attached below.

However, my personal opinion is that the disadvantages of two/three treatments per week outweigh the advantages. Two treatments per week cause financial hardship and exhaustion for the patient.

Additionally, when we treat internal diseases, I think the path the patient has to go through is important, and this path takes time. Dispelling liver blockages, strengthening qi and blood, or removing dampness are not things that can be resolved quickly.

Two treatments a week, at least in my experience, do not shorten the path the patient must take to reach balance, but they do place a financial burden on the patient and free up time in their schedule.

When is it important (in my opinion) to see a patient twice a week?

In a situation of very severe pain that continues without interruption: for example, a fissure that causes severe pain.

Even in the case of a complicated disease, for example, a Crohn's outbreak accompanied by bleeding and ulcers, it is impossible to expect that acupuncture once a week will be sufficient (interestingly, in the case of a colitis outbreak, I usually see that treatment once a week is sufficient).

For most of our patients, the emphasis will be on achieving balance from a Chinese perspective, so in most cases I think that treatment once a week would be more appropriate.

  Summary of the study in the attached link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048788/

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