Is Acupuncture Painful?

Although many people suspect that acupuncture is going to be a painful process because it involves needles, the reality is that the vast majority of acupuncture patients don't describe the needle insertion as painful. So if acupuncture is rarely painful, what sort of sensation do patients experience and why don't more people feel pain during an acupuncture treatment?

The Acupuncture Sensation

When considering the question of pain during acupuncture, it's helpful to remember that pain is a sensation that everyone experiences differently - one person may describe a sensation as painful; another might describe the sensation as pressure, a tingling feeling, or as intense. 

Most people describe acupuncture as an intense feeling or a feeling of pressure. They may also recount feeling energy building around the site of the needle insertion. The part of the process where any pain is likely to be felt is usually when the needle is inserted initially - this is described by some as a small prick - in terms of intensity, it's ranked as less painful than an insect bite. 

Very Thin Needles

Unlike the needles used when you have a blood test or a vaccination, acupuncture needles don't have an internal channel. As a result, they're incredibly fine, which is one reason why there's very little sensation when they enter the body.

Once the needle is inserted, the sensations people describe at the needle site usually relate to the changes in the body's energy flows that the careful positioning of the needle precipitates, rather than from the needle insertion.

Talk With Your Acupuncturist

To ensure you're as relaxed as possible before treatment commences, it's often helpful to talk through your concerns with your acupuncturist. They will be happy to answer all your questions, as well as offer reassurance, based on their professional experience.

To summarise, if you're embarking on a course of acupuncture treatment, be reassured that for the overwhelming majority of people, acupuncture is experienced as an intense, rather than painful, sensation.