These are the two most frequent questions I hear in the clinic. 

 

Overall, acupuncture needling does not hurt. However, it is important to comprehend that acupuncture is insertion of a foreign object (the needle) into the body. As such, sometimes you will feel the needle when it first goes in, and then the feeling will dissipate, (we have many sensory nerves in our skin!), though many times, you wont feel anything at all. Because the acupuncture needle gauges are so thin, this sensation is not painful in the way most people think of it. 

 

There is a consistent assumption that acupuncture needles are somehow the same size as one used for a blood draw or medical injection. Acupuncture needles are not hollow and they are much smaller. In fact, nearly 20 solid acupuncture needles can be inserted into a single hollow hypodermic needle! I also often get asked if there is medicine in acupuncture needles. No, there is not any medicine in the acupuncture needles as they are solid. The act of inserting the needles by a professional stimulates the body’s innate healing abilities. That’s the medicine!

There is an additional sensation that is felt with acupuncture when some needles are inserted. This is called “de qi” (duh chee). This feeling is unique and strange at first for patients but it is not painful. It is unique to acupuncture and is often described as a feeling of heaviness, pressure, pulling, or awareness in a given area. For everyone it is slightly different but yet the same. This one of a kind sensation is a good sign to your acupuncturist. However, if this sensation is not achieved it does not by any means indicate the treatment was not therapeutic.

 

This is where I get into answering how acupuncture works. You see, even if the de qi sensation isn’t felt, there are still many and various physiological responses that happen when a needle is inserted in the body. Here they are in a nutshell:

 

Increased circulation

Relaxation of tissues

Altered/reduced sensation of pain

Balancing and regulation of the nervous system (ie: reducing stress!)

Regulation of metabolism

Various immune responses

Stimulation of the release of feel good neurotransmitters such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and anandamide

 

If you’d like to know how these work in depth, be sure to ask your acupuncturist. Educational and professional standards are very high for acupuncturists these days and they will be able to speak about these topics easily, especially in relation to your individual health concerns. Be wary of getting information about acupuncture from just one source and/or sources that are not trained and practicing as acupuncturists.