Does Acupuncture Hurt?

Have you ever wondered if acupuncture hurts? Or been afraid to try acupuncture in case it does?  

It makes sense. Most people associate needles with vaccines and blood work. But there’s a big difference between those needles and the (much thinner) ones we use in acupuncture. 

The standard needle used to administer vaccinations is .50 millimeters to .70 millimeters thick. That’s the same as the lead used in mechanical pencils! 

Acupuncture is a different story. The thickest acupuncture needle is just about half the thickness of the needles used for vaccines. At Radiant Sun, I use Japanese needles ranging from .16 millimeters to .20 millimeters, and Chinese needles ranging from .20 millimeters to .30 millimeters. To give you an idea of how thin that really is, a single strand of human hair is roughly .10 millimeters. Our needles are so thin that part of an acupuncturist’s training involves hand strengthening so we can insert such thin needles. 

But back to our question: Does acupuncture hurt? 

Most people tolerate the needles well and maybe feel one or two points stronger than the rest. And of course a few people do feel some pain—those patients are often already afraid of needles. For those patients, I switch to thinner (and fewer) needles and have them breathe out as the needle is inserted. Communication is everything. If you feel a sharp pain, I want to know about it immediately so I can make it go away. Acupuncture should be enjoyable and relaxing, even if you’re nervous around needles. 

Some interesting sensations can be felt during an acupuncture session, too. It isn’t uncommon to feel movement under your skin—that’s your Qi moving through an area. You also could feel itching, heat or even a dull ache. I once felt like someone had poured a cup of cold water all over my head during a treatment. 

As long those sensations aren’t accompanied by sharp pain, they’re simply a normal part of your Qi.

My goal is to make you as comfortable as possible when you walk in the door. When you’re ready to give acupuncture a try, you can schedule an appointment here.