It is human nature to be afraid of needles. Most people only have experience with hypodermic needles, so they justifiably are not interested in having needles put in them. Especially since they are not sure if acupuncture can help them.
Acupuncture needles are about the size of a human hair. They are so small that they actually could fit inside of a hypodermic needle.
Acupuncture needles are sterile and only used once. Needles cost between 2 cents and 10 cents each, depending on the brand. Acupuncturists have their own preferences on brand.
No matter which brand is chosen, you should not feel pain. You will sometimes not even feel the needle going in at all. It depends on the location of the acupuncture point. If you get acupuncture on an area that is already in pain, it might hurt to put the needles in because you have a lot of inflammation in that area and are more sensitive.
Your acupuncturist might choose points that are far away from the affected area. That’s because a point on your leg can affect circulation in your shoulder. So, it is not always necessary to treat the affected area.
Once the needle is in, you can start to feel a feeling called “getting the Qi”, that is, you start to feel that the needles are working. A little numbness, tingling, itching, swelling can be felt. That is a good sign.
Sometimes, if your energy is very low, you might not have this sensation of Qi (energy). Your energy must be built up with herbs and acupuncture so you will start to feel the Qi when you get better.
The feeling is not usually unpleasant. You will feel more relaxed than you ever thought possible from having a few needles inserted.
If you do not want to try acupuncture, but would like to benefit from Chinese medicine, you can find an acupuncturist who will prescribe only herbal remedies. Chinese herbal medicine is very effective for many health ailments. Chinese herbal remedies often include herbs such as Ginseng to treat energy levels and enhance digestion. Chinese herbs can be taken long term to improve health.