Acupuncture Isn't Scary

Plenty of people are scared of acupuncture—I know because I hear it all the time! Whether they’re scared of needles or doubtful of acupuncture’s benefits, their reasons are very real and often valid. Luckily, that means I have the opportunity every day to educate, share information and put people at ease so they can reap acupuncture’s benefits without the panic.

So in the spirit (Get it?) of today, here are 13 reasons why acupuncture isn’t so scary after all.

1. Acupuncture needles are tiny!
And I mean VERY tiny. They’re also only slightly thicker than a single strand of human hair and less than half the thickness of a standard vaccine needle. They’re also flexible and your acupuncturist can even insert them so you can lie down on them without feeling them.

2. Placing needles shouldn’t be terribly painful.
Like any medical or even many non-medical treatment, there’s always some risk of discomfort. But with acupuncture, it is usually minimal. And if you do feel any pain, it probably means the needle hit a hair follicle or needs some adjustment. Your acupuncturist can also use thinner needles to increase your comfort.

3. We’ll talk about your fears ahead of time.
My job is to make you feel better, and that starts the minute you reach out. Here are 4 tips for facing your fears ahead of your acupuncture appointment.

4. Your treatment should be relaxing.
From heated beds and individual room temperature controls to quiet rooms and acupuncture’s natural relaxation, coming to Radiant Sun should feel like a break from your day-to-day. Depending on what we’re treating and why you’ve coming in, feeling relaxed and refreshed might even be our end goal for your appointment.

5. The benefits probably outweigh your fears.
I want to say definitely, but I know some fears are just that big. And while I can’t promise every single person has completely overcome their fear of needles after one treatment, what I can say is that almost everyone who decides to give it a chance leaves their first appointment feeling better, more relaxed and open to acupuncture in the future.

6. Kids do it!
I treat kids in my practice, and they’re often braver than adults when it comes to acupuncture! I’m definitely not here to convince your child to get acupuncture, but many are treated for medical conditions and see real benefits quickly.

7. It calms you down.
Fear can be a funny thing—it often keeps us from doing things that we’d get an emotional boost from doing. With acupuncture, simply taking the first step should ease some of your fears, because acupuncture itself can help lower anxiety and stress.

8. You might even fall asleep.
Yep, it really can be that relaxing! Don’t worry, we see it all the time and we’ll wake you up when it’s time to remove the needles.

9. You get to listen to relaxing music, just like at the spa.
We’ve even made a playlist so you can bring it home with you.

10. Your acupuncturist knows what they’re doing.
Licensed acupuncturists go through years of specialized training—as much as many doctoral programs. For me, that meant three years of courses that covered four years of material in acupuncture and electroacupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), Gua Sha (Chinese skin-scraping technique), Qi Gong (Chinese movement and breathing therapy) and Eastern dietary therapy. Those were complemented by what most people think of as more traditional medical courses in anatomy, clinical skills and nutrition, as well as internships. It’s a lot! And that means you’re in good hands.

11. Every acupuncture needle is brand new and sterilized.
They’re also individually packaged to guarantee they’re sterile and ready for you and only you.

12. It’s probably covered by your insurance.
You’ll always want to check with your insurance provider before your appointment, but as of 2020, most insurance plans now offer some type of acupuncture coverage.

13. Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years!
About 3,000, to be sort of exact. With that kind of longevity, you know there’s something to it. And the World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a proven treatment for more than 30 symptoms, conditions and diseases.

Without a scare in the world,
Julie