Traditional
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture:
What Do the Needles Feel Like?
One of the first questions people ask me about acupuncture is, "what do the needles feel like?" or "do the needles hurt?" Many people in our society tend to be afraid or nervous around needles, mainly because they associate needles with pain. Most often, this association comes from the fear of childhood vaccinations or Novocaine injections used at the dentist. When I insert an acupuncture needle into someone for the first time, frequently they will exclaim, “was that it? I didn't feel a thing!" They are very surprised that it doesn't hurt.
There are a few dramatic differences between the needles used by MDs and dentists for injections and the needles used by an acupuncturist. One difference is the needle's size. Needles used for injections are hollow to allow the substance in the syringe to flow into the body, and because of this, they have to be large enough so that it will remain stiff and not bend. Acupuncture needles are not hollow and are made extremely thin. A typical acupuncture needle is about the width of a human hair, and this greatly reduces the likelihood of pain. Another difference is that during injection, a substance is being forced into your body. Over time, what is injected is absorbed by the body, but in the meantime, it is a constant irritant at the injection site, resulting in pain. Once an acupuncture needle is removed, nothing remains. There is nothing to cause that kind of pain.
With that said, you still may feel the placement of the needle, but in most cases it won't be painful. You may feel various sensations, which everyone feels differently, such as tingling, warmth or heaviness in the area of the needle insertion. Depending on the acupoints (access areas) I choose, you may also feel your body's qi (energy) flow up or down the insertion area. All of these sensations are signs that the acupoints are being properly stimulated by the needle. The level of stimulation is controlled by the acupuncturist, and the amount of stimulation can be intense at times. When I ask my patients what they are experiencing during a treatment, they generally say "I can feel it. It's not exactly painful, but could you make it less intense?" When the stimulation is too great for you, I tone it down. If you don't feel anything at all, I may increase the stimulation until you feel an amount that is comfortable for you.
Some areas of the body, such as the back of the hands and the tops of the feet, are more sensitive than others. Reasons for this can include the presence of a greater number of nerve endings in the area, thinner skin or less muscle in the area, or simply because some people are just more sensitive than others. An acupuncturist can adjust their needling technique to ensure a comfortable treatment when needles in those areas are necessary.
Of course, all needles used are pre-packaged, sterilized, single-use and disposable. Reading about what an acupuncture needle will feel like can help to calm any apprehensions you may have about your treatment, but the only way to truly know what the sensation of an acupuncture needle feels like is book an acupuncture appoinment and experience it for yourself!
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is a time-proven, effective and safe way to treat many illnesses and diseases, and can help with the symptoms of:
Musculoskeletal
conditions
(including back
pain, neck pain, tendonitis and arthritis)
Headaches
and Migraines
Stress
Colds
and Flu
Allergies
Gastrointestinal
conditions
Gynecological
conditions
(including PMS,
painful menstruation, irregular
menstruation,
and menopausal symptoms)
Anxiety
and Depression
Fatigue
Post-stroke
conditions
Asthma
Repetitive
strain injuries
Acute
injuries such as sprains
(If you don't see your condition, please call or email to ask about it.)