Acupuncture is very safe when performed by a licensed, properly trained practitioner. At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine:

• We use sterile, single-use, disposable needles for every patient.
• Clean Needle Technique is followed strictly to prevent infection.
• Treatments are tailored to your condition, medical history, and comfort level.
• Most people feel relaxed during treatment, with only mild sensations such as warmth, heaviness, or a quick pinch when the needle is inserted.
• Side effects are typically minimal and may include slight soreness, light bruising, or temporary fatigue—all of which usually resolve quickly.

Acupuncture is a non-pharmaceutical, low-risk therapy that has been safely used for thousands of years and is supported by modern clinical research for conditions involving pain, stress, sleep, digestive issues, and more.

If you ever feel unsure about anything, you can ask questions at any time—we want you to feel informed, comfortable, and confident throughout your care.

• Write down any questions you have.
Bring them with you—we’re here to help and want you to feel fully prepared.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
This allows easy access to areas we may treat, such as arms, legs, shoulders, or back.

• Avoid large meals right before or after your visit.
A light snack is fine, but being overly full may make you uncomfortable during treatment.

• Take it easy after your session.
Try to avoid heavy workouts, strenuous activity, alcohol, or recreational drugs for at least 6 hours afterward.

• Reduce stress when possible.
Give yourself time to relax before and after your visit. Adequate rest helps your body respond more effectively to treatment.

• Track any changes between visits.
Note improvements, changes in pain (including pain that shifts locations), changes in sleep, stress levels, digestion, mobility, or anything else you notice. These details help us fine-tune your treatment plan.

We are a cash-based clinic, so we do not file insurance claims for you. You may request an itemized and coded receipt for insurance reimbursement upon request.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The number of treatments depends on a few factors:

Your Symptom Stage (Relief → Correction / Root Cause → Maintenance)

Relief: calming pain, tension, or nerve irritation
Correction / Root cause: correcting movement, strength, or structural issues
Maintenance: preventing flare-ups and supporting long-term function

Acute conditions:

If you’re dealing with recent injuries or sudden issues within the last few months, you may notice significant improvement after just a few sessions. Typically acute conditions require only 1–5 treatments compared to long-term issues.

Chronic conditions: 

Chronic issues or long-term systemic conditions usually require more sessions. A typical plan involves 2 visits per week for the first 2–3 weeks, with treatments spreading out as you progress. Chronic issues often need more total sessions and may benefit from follow-up or maintenance care.

Long Standing Issues: 

May require beyond just a few initial visits: May require initial evaluation sessions + longer course of care. % improvement is assessed for long standing issues to determine progression between sets of visits.

Maintenance:

Many patients choose occasional visits to keep pain from returning and to support active lifestyles.

We’ll regularly reassess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as you improve.

What makes each case unique?

Length of Your Issue

Problems that have been around longer often take more time to unwind. Chronic tension, nerve irritation, or long-term compensation patterns usually need more sessions than newer issues.

Condition being treated

Different issues heal at different speeds (nerve, muscle, joint, inflammation, etc.)

Acute or Chronic

Acute issues often improve faster, especially if treated early. Chronic conditions may need more consistent sessions at first before treatments can be spaced out.

How Your Body Responds

Everyone heals differently and people also heal at different speeds. Your biology, movement patterns, and day-to-day habits affect how quickly you see results.

Your Treatment Goals

Some patients come for pain relief. Others want better mobility, long-term correction, or performance support. Your goals help determine the pace and duration of care.

Health, Sleep, and Stress Levels

Your body heals best when you’re resting well and managing stress. These factors influence inflammation, circulation, and overall recovery.

Medications

Some medications can slow healing or change how your body responds. Others may become easier to reduce over time as symptoms improve, always with your doctor’s guidance.

Herbs can be used on their own or together with acupuncture. They help you continue your treatment at home, not just during your clinic visits. The herbs are a custom blend made just for you based on your needs and can be updated week to week. Taking them daily helps your body keep healing. Herbs can help with pain, movement, strength, digestion, energy, and circulation.

The tongue is considered a “map” of the body. Its color, coating, texture, and shape reveal information about digestion, circulation, inflammation, and overall balance.
It is one of several diagnostic tools used in TCM.

Your pulse provides detailed information about your body’s internal health.
Acupuncturists feel several pulse positions on each wrist, each corresponding to a specific organ or meridian.
They assess qualities such as depth, speed, strength, and overall balance to guide diagnosis and treatment.

What Will My Acupuncturist Do?

Your session begins with a thorough consultation, including:

Modern Medical Assessment

• posture analysis
• strength and mobility testing
• orthopedic tests
• palpation to identify tension, nerve compression, or injury

Traditional Chinese Medicine Assessment

• pulse diagnosis
• tongue evaluation
• questions about sleep, digestion, stress, and lifestyle

Based on your findings, we create a personalized treatment plan.
Hair-thin, sterile needles are inserted into specific points to stimulate the nervous system, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and support healing.
Most patients feel deeply relaxed — many even fall asleep.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment that uses thin, sterile needles to stimulate specific points on the body. It has been refined for thousands of years and is now recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for its effectiveness in treating a wide range of health conditions.

At Big Easy Acupuncture in Metairie, LA, we blend Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern Sports Medicine Acupuncture and orthopedic assessment to help you:

✅ Reduce pain

✅ Improve mobility

✅ Restore Strength

✅ Recover from injury

✅ Restore nervous system balance

✅ Support long-term wellness

Acupuncture enhances the body’s natural healing ability by improving circulation, regulating the nervous system, and supporting immunity.
It is a safe, drug-free, and effective option for both chronic and acute conditions.

Learn more about acupuncture from both Eastern and Western perspectives in our full article below.