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
• 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

What Is Acupuncture?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We are a cash-based clinic, so we do not bill insurance. Paying directly keeps things simple and allows us to focus on giving you personalized care and the best treatment plan.

• 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.

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.

How Are Acupuncturists Educated?

Licensed acupuncturists complete extensive medical training before they are allowed to practice. In the United States, the pathway typically includes the following:

Graduate-Level Medical Education

Acupuncturists complete a 3–4 year Master’s or Doctorate program in Acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine. These programs include:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Neuroanatomy and pain physiology
• Western medical pathology
• Orthopedic assessment
• Clean Needle Technique
• Acupuncture theory and clinical methods
• Herbal medicine (varies by program)

Most programs include 2,000–3,000 hours of combined classroom and clinical training.

Supervised Clinical Internships

Students complete hundreds of hours of supervised clinical practice where they learn:

• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Safe and precise needle insertion
• Electro-acupuncture
• Manual therapy techniques
• Corrective exercise instruction (program-dependent)

National Board Examinations

Most states require passing the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) board exams in:

• Acupuncture
• Biomedicine
• Foundations of Oriental Medicine
• Herbal medicine (if applicable)

State Licensure

After passing national board exams, practitioners apply for a state license and must complete ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure and stay up-to-date with modern clinical research and safety standards.

Training at Big Easy Acupuncture

Glenn Braud, L.Ac., has advanced training in:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Sports Medicine Acupuncture
• EXSTORE orthopedic assessment
• Electro-acupuncture
• Manual therapy
• Anatomy-based needling for pain, mobility, and strength issues

What Can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as an effective treatment for a wide variety of health concerns. It supports both acute and chronic conditions by reducing pain, improving circulation, calming the nervous system, and restoring balance throughout the body.

Below are some of the conditions acupuncture can help with:

Pain & Musculoskeletal Conditions

• Arthritis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches & migraines
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Sciatica
• Shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow
• Wrist pain

Digestive & Gastrointestinal Issues

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Colitis
• Digestive trouble
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Nausea & vomiting
• Morning sickness

Respiratory & Immune Conditions

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Common cold
• Pneumonia
• Rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Tonsillitis

Neurological & Nerve-Related Conditions

• Dizziness
• Facial palsy
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Hiccough

Women’s Health & Reproductive Support

• Fertility support
• Menopause symptoms
• Menstrual irregularities
• PMS
• Reproductive issues

Mental & Emotional Health

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Emotional stress
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Fatigue & chronic fatigue

Urinary & Kidney Health

• Incontinence
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Adrenal Fatigue

Other Common Conditions

• Addiction support
• Dental pain
• Eye conditions
• Gingivitis
• Smoking cessation
• Sleep disturbances
• Stress

When preparing for an acupuncture session, a common question arises: Can or should you eat before acupuncture? The short answer is yes, you can and, in most cases, should eat a light meal or snack before your session. Here’s why:

The Importance of Eating Before Acupuncture

1. Preventing Lightheadedness and Dizziness

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body, which can influence the nervous system and blood circulation. If you attend your session on an empty stomach, you might experience lightheadedness or dizziness. Eating a small meal or snack helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, ensuring you feel comfortable and relaxed during and after the treatment.

2. Enhancing the Treatment Effectiveness

A balanced meal can help your body’s energy, or “qi,” flow more smoothly. Proper nutrition supports overall health, making your body more receptive to the benefits of acupuncture. Consuming a light meal can provide the necessary nutrients for optimal energy flow and healing.

3. Promoting Relaxation and Comfort

Feeling hungry during your session can be distracting, uncomfortable, and/or irritable. This may make it harder for you to relax. Since relaxation is a key component of effective acupuncture treatment, eating a light meal beforehand can help you remain calm and focused on the healing process.

What to Eat Before Acupuncture

While it’s important to eat before your acupuncture session, the type of food you consume matters. Here are some tips on what to eat:

• • Light and Balanced Meals: Opt for a meal that includes a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Examples include a small chicken salad, a quinoa bowl with vegetables, or a smoothie with fruits and protein powder.
  • Avoid Heavy and Greasy Foods: Foods that are too heavy or greasy can make you feel sluggish and uncomfortable during the healing process as the treatment and body work together to remodel in the best state. Steer clear of fast food, fried items, and overly rich dishes.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drinking water before your session is also crucial. Proper hydration aids in the body’s natural processes and can enhance the effects of acupuncture.

• Avoid Mind & Body Altering Substances: Acupuncture looks to balance the body & mind. The more mind & body altering substances used will make the body go through a harder balancing process for it to stay in a personalized ideal state.

Timing Your Meal

Ideally, you should eat a meal or snack within 1-2 hours before your session. This timeframe allows your body to start digesting the food without feeling overly full or still being hungry.

Individual Considerations

Each person’s body responds differently to acupuncture and dietary habits. If you have specific health conditions or dietary needs, consult with your acupuncturist or a healthcare professional for personalized advice. They can provide tailored recommendations based on your unique situation.

Conclusion

In summary, eating before acupuncture is generally advisable to prevent discomfort and enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Choose light, balanced meals, stay hydrated, and time your meal appropriately to ensure the best possible experience. Listening to your body and consulting with professionals will help you make the right choices for your health and well-being.

How Long Is a Typical Acupuncture Session?

A typical acupuncture session lasts 45–60 minutes, depending on your condition and treatment plan. (more…)