Acupuncture, eek needles?
Must be painful… Well, no actually. Acupuncture is not only not painful, it can be quite gentle and generally quite pleasant.
There is a good reason why we associate needles with pain though, as that is what we have been taught from childhood through the contact we have had with them. However, the needles used in acupuncture North Vancouver are quite different, and no, they are not painful.
Our earliest associations with needles tend to be during youth when getting immunization or blood tests. These needles are of a thicker gauge, sturdy and are hollow in order to allow the fluid to be either extracted or inserted. With acupuncture, there is no need for the needle to be hollow, allowing for a much thinner, flexible needle. Many needles will even be coated for a smoother insertion.
Acupuncture needles are so thin, that many people will not even feel the acupuncture needle piercing the skin, and those that do will generally feel only a slight prick that very quickly dissipates. What one then feels will be very different from person to person. As an acupuncturist I have heard the acupuncture feeling described in many ways. Most often described as a heavy sensation, a ticklish, tingling, achy, “weird” sensation, but not painful. The most poetic description I have ever heard was; it felt like a gentle blueberry popping. That one had me smiling!
Acupuncture North Vancouver
It is not entirely possible to describe exactly what you will feel, as anyone who has had acupuncture will know, because there are so many variables. It depends on what your acupuncturist is treating, their own treatment style, where on the body the needles are being inserted as well as your general state of health. The only way to find out is, of course, to try it yourself.
This is a therapy proven many times over to be extremely effective in treating all manners of health concerns, in a gentle, and natural manner. Your acupuncturist should only ever work within your level of comfort and explain this form of therapy in order to put you at ease, as you learn to love these magical instruments. If you are still unsure, speak with your acupuncturist about other modalities available for treatment.
Acupuncture needles are incredibly powerful and effective, but they are not the only tool we have in our toolbox, and fear of them should never impede your ability to seek care.
