Acupuncture: Does it Hurt?

Acupuncture. Many people would consider it, if not for the needles. This brief article answers the question on every prospective acupuncture patients' mind: "DOES IT HURT??" Here's the honest answer.

Does acupuncture hurt?
I have been an acupuncturist for a decade. The number one question for prospective patients that whole time has been, "Does it hurt?" . The simple answer is “no”. The needles are solid and thin, about the width of a few human hairs. Hypodermic needles that you know from other medical settings are large gauge and have a hole that gouges the flesh and causes pain. Acupuncture needles are very fine, solid and sharp and are quickly tapped through the skin with little or no sensation.

The picture included with this article shows just how thin they are. The picture demonstrates that a large number of acupuncture needles can fit in the shaft of a hypodermic needle.

So, if it has been the association of the word "needle" that has been keeping you away from acupuncture, you may want to reconsider.

Mike Arsenault is a licensed acupuncturist practicing in Ipswich, MA (www.internalartsacu.com) and at Winchester Hospital in Woburn, MA. He is the founder of the herbal skin care line Emily Skin Soothers (www.emilyskinsoothers.com) and created the free-informational website My Skin Better (www.myskinbetter.com) as a resource for people with skin problems.