But I can’t stand needles!
For some, the biggest hurdle to trying acupuncture is the needle. So, does it hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very fine; around the thickness of two average human hairs, and are designed to push the cells apart rather than to pierce them. Some needles are inserted at a fairly superficial depth in the skin, around 1mm, and some will go a little deeper. The sensation you will feel is not created by the piercing of the skin, but by the needle making contact with your Qi energy. If contact is not made, you will generally feel nothing. Most needles are in for only 1 or 2 seconds, so the sensation will be brief. You will feel something that can be described as a tug or a burst of energy in the local area, which lasts no longer than a few seconds, and is quite tolerable. After the first treatment, I will normally only need to use between 2 and 4 pairs of needles each time, and I only use sterile, disposable needles to ensure the highest standard of hygiene. Part of the treatment consists of ‘moxibustion’, that is warming the point with a herb called moxa (Chinese Mugwort) prior to needling, which patients often describe as very relaxing.
