Trying a therapy that is new to you always seems a little scary at first and you have every right to be sceptical. Sure, it all sounds good when they are telling you about the amazing benefits but what about the risks involved?
When it comes to Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), Acupuncture comes highly recommended as a way to get rid of discomfort and pain and to promote healing. However, the sight of needles going into the skin of a person is enough to raise some understandable fears and cast doubts on if this will be effective or not.
So the question is does acupuncture hurt? We’ll answer this question and tell you all you need to know about this centuries-old tradition.
Why do they use needles?
Acupuncture is a part of TCM and as such the ideas have their roots in ancient ways of thinking. The concept of “Qi” or energy that flows through the body is one of them and the flow of this Qi produces harmony or imbalance within the body.
The needles used in acupuncture are meant to redistribute the flow of Qi in the body and unblock or change the flow to deal with specific symptoms. Practitioners have always used needles because of their effectiveness in targeting the minute nerves and fascia in our bodies.
Today’s acupuncturists use more than just Qi in their assessment as science has come a long way in improving patient care and overall treatment.
So does it hurt?
Let’s start with the needles themselves. They are carefully sterilised to avoid any infections and they are also small and thin for precise placement. The needles are inserted into the fascial network, where it does its job in stimulating the nerves and muscles to regenerate and heal.
The other aspect is reducing pain and practitioners carefully place the needles in areas that trigger your body’s endorphins to cause a sense of calm, dulling your pain. However, this is where you might actually “feel” the needle.
Since the needles are really tiny they don’t usually cause any pain when they pierce your skin and in the hands of an expert, you shouldn’t feel any pain at all but rather a tiny pinch that goes away quickly. Some people do feel some discomfort or tingling at the start of a session or in their first session as they have higher pain sensitivity and they might take a little while to get used to the needles.
However, over time, this pain subsides and they start to feel the benefits of the treatment. In some cases, where thicker needles might need to be used or the nerves in a particular area are particularly sensitive, you might feel acute pain and if it persists you must tell the practitioner about it and he/she will adjust the treatment accordingly.
Make your pain go away with Acupuncture at Form Physio and Rehab
We believe in the healing power of Acupuncture and that’s why it’s a part of our services at Form Physio & Rehab. Our certified TCM practitioners are experienced in treating patients suffering from a range of ailments and they will do their best to give you a pain-free Acupuncture experience. If you want to reduce your body/nerve pain and you want to try Acupuncture, speak to one of our Acupuncturists to learn if it is right for you.
Click here to speak to our Acupuncturist
Author
Thipkrita (Fair) Thitipongpreeda
Senior TCM Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness
Khun Thipkrita is our Senior TCM Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness. Thipkrita graduated from Mae Fah Luang University with a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She also worked and studied TCM at Xiamen University in China before moving back to Thailand. Thipkrita is a true team player who believes in the power of our Team Based Approach to give all our clients the highest chance of success.
