Want Acupuncture But Hate Needles?
When people discover that acupuncture treatments can actually help them sleep better, increase energy, improve digestion, relieve pain, and reduce stress — most are eager to schedule an appointment and get started!
However, there are some people whose fear of needles prevents them from enjoying the many wonderful benefits of acupuncture. If you’re one of those people who have yet to seek acupuncture treatment simply because of a slight needle phobia — DO NOT WORRY — you too can be one of the millions of people whose lives have been significantly improved from acupuncture treatments.
To relieve any acupuncture needle anxiety you may have, here are a few important "points" you should be aware of:
1. FORGET EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL NEEDLES
Needles seen on television and in movies, or needles most commonly found at doctors’ offices are primarily used for giving shots or having blood drawn, and are not used in acupuncture at all.
2. ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES ARE EXTREMELY SMALL
Most acupuncture needles are smaller than the diameter of a single strand of human hair. Since acupuncture doesn't extract or inject any fluids into your body, the needles are solid, rather than hollow like most other medical needles, making acupuncture one of the most gentle of all the various needling methods.
3. ACUPUNCTURE DOES NOT HURT
Although some patients feel the needles slightly as they are inserted, most acupuncture patients do not feel anything at all. Sometimes during treatment, patients will experience certain sensations that’s most commonly described as a slight warmth or tingling in the area being needled, or potentially a brief ache or heaviness. These sensations are usually only felt on one or two of the most important acupuncture points involved, and is quite often evidence that favorable results can be achieved from the many benefits acupuncture treatments provide. Most acupuncture patients describe their acupuncture sessions as deeply relaxing and will quite often fall asleep during the entire acupuncture treatment itself, or at some point over the course of their acupuncture session.
4. ACUPUNCTURE PATIENTS ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THEIR TREATMENTS
Unlike other conventional procedures, acupuncture is not something that is happening to you, or that someone else is doing to you. Acupuncture is a unique and personally tailored experience that you are the most important part of. A great acupuncturist will progress with you at your own comfortable pace, while ensuring that you remain free of any anxiety or stress during the entire acupuncture treatment.
Practitioners at EAST Integrative Medicine are trained not only in acupuncture and most other needle modalities, but in many needle-free modalities as well such as shiatsu, cupping, moxibustion, qigong, ear seeds, and herbs.
Quit the needless suffering — give acupuncture or one of our other needle-free treatments a try and schedule an appointment today!
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