Acupuncture myth: it hurts!

This myth is naturally born out of our fear of needles and childhood memories of immunization. The fact is that acupuncture ‘needles’ are NOT like the needles we get injections with. Acupuncture needles are solid stainless-steel filaments that typically measure from 0.16 mm to 0.30 mm in thickness, whereas a commonly used type of injection needle is 0.71 mm and is hollow bore.

The sensation of receiving an acupuncture needle usually ranges from completely painless to something less than a mosquito bite. On some occasions, it may hurt a bit more than a mosquito bite. Since I am formerly ‘needle-phobic’ myself, I understand that most people do not want aggressive needling.

Some people may have had something called ‘IMS’ or Intra-Muscular Stimulation. This is a type of needling technique but is NOT acupuncture. While many people find IMS very intense and painful, an acupuncture session is a completely different experience; most clients find an acupuncture treatment very calming and relaxing.

There are also different styles and techniques of acupuncture. The style I now practice is what I consider to be the most efficient system, using one to five needles that are placed on the arms or legs. Sessions last for 30 to 60 minutes while the client relaxes on the treatment table.

If you are still not convinced that acupuncture is the way to go for you, give me a call anyway since I have needle-free treatments using acu-laser and microcurrent.