Duration and Frequency of Treatment

Duration and Frequency of Treatment in TCM

One common question patients often ask is: “Doctor, how long will my treatment take, and how frequently do I need to come in for sessions?” This article aims to address this question. The duration and frequency of treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) depend on various factors, including the nature of the disease, the severity of the patient’s condition, and the patient’s ability to adhere to the treatment plan. Based on our extensive clinical experience, we categorize treatment plans into three main types: short-term, medium-term, and long-term treatment.

Short-term Treatment

Short-term treatment typically requires the patient to visit for 1-3 weeks. This type of treatment is suitable for conditions such as acute pain, recently developed chronic pain, and diseases that have occurred within 1-3 months, such as colds, fevers, coughs, insomnia, and common internal, external, gynecological, and pediatric diseases, etc.

For the treatment of acute illnesses, it is crucial to take them seriously. On one hand, prompt intervention is necessary to prevent the illness from becoming chronic, worsening, or progressing deeper within the body. On the other hand, excessive or inappropriate treatment should be avoided, as it may appear to resolve minor symptoms while merely suppressing them, potentially weakening the body’s constitution or posing risks to long-term health.

Medium-term Treatment

Medium-term treatment usually requires the patient to undergo continuous treatment for approximately 2 months, or about 8 weeks. This is suitable for most chronic disease patients. These patients typically have conditions that have persisted for six months to 3 ~ 4 years, with recurring symptoms and relatively complex situations that have not responded well to previous treatments, including Western medicine. Chronic diseases requiring medium-term treatment include long-term insomnia, chronic fatigue, low libido, menstrual irregularities, chronic back pain, postoperative discomfort, and much more. These patients often have complex pathological mechanisms involving deficiencies, excesses, cold, and heat. The treatment period of about two months aligns with the human body’s basic recovery cycle.

For illnesses that have persisted over an extended period, the body’s vital energy has often been somewhat weakened in the struggle against the disease. Compared to the treatment of acute conditions, chronic ailments require a more complex approach and, therefore, a longer treatment duration. Many patients are accustomed to Western medicine’s approach of suppressing or controlling symptoms, leading to a desire for rapid results. However, this is not in line with the body’s natural recovery process. In addition to patience and commitment to treatment, actively improving lifestyle and dietary habits is crucial. Following the doctor’s advice and changing unhealthy habits are essential steps toward achieving effective and lasting results.

Long-term Treatment

Long-term treatment plans are for stubborn or inherently lengthy diseases, such as psoriasis, hypertension, diabetes, post-stroke sequelae, rheumatoid arthritis, various nodules, and some gynecological diseases requiring certain menstrual cycles for improvement, such as infertility and amenorrhea.

For illnesses lasting five or even ten years, or for inherently challenging conditions like psoriasis or cancer, the body’s internal environment usually involves highly complex, intertwined disease mechanisms that may conflict with each other—for example, mixed cold and heat symptoms, or yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity, alongside pathological factors such as phlegm, water retention, and blood stasis. Treating these conditions is inherently difficult, and long-term reliance on Western medications further complicates the process. In such cases, patients must adopt a steady and patient approach, as expecting immediate, visible results after only a few treatments is often unrealistic. A sustained period of treatment is necessary to allow the body to gradually improve and recover. Although initial progress might be subtle, it is of great value for the patient’s genuine recovery and long-term improvement.

Patients with such conditions should maintain close communication with their doctor, gaining a clear understanding of their physical state and jointly developing a suitable treatment plan to be followed diligently. Alongside treatment, it’s essential to adopt lifestyle and dietary improvements as recommended by the doctor to avoid further harm from poor eating habits. Additionally, learning and practicing suitable traditional Chinese wellness exercises can strengthen the body. By combining these three aspects, patients can maximize their chances of achieving optimal treatment outcomes.

On the other hand, it is essential to highlight that the long-term treatment emphasized in Chinese medicine is fundamentally different from the lifelong medication approach often seen in Western medicine. Chinese medicine’s approach to healing focuses on identifying the root issue and finding ways to address it. The goal of treatment is to help the body recover by itself, aiming to help patients gradually reduce their dependence on medication rather than requiring them to rely on it for life.

In conclusion, patients should choose the appropriate treatment plan based on their specific disease characteristics. For acute or short-term issues, prompt treatment is essential to prevent chronicity or other complications. For chronic conditions, patients need sufficient patience to allow the doctor to systematically address the problem as it evolves. Patience and proactive lifestyle changes are crucial for the fundamental improvement of difficult-to-treat conditions.