What’s it like to get acupuncture?

If you decide you want to get acupuncture, you might have some questions about what the experience will feel like. Before getting started, I will usually ask you questions about your lifestyle, your reason for wanting to do acupuncture, and your health history. I will also take a look at your tongue and feel your radial pulses for additional clues about your mental and physical state. Based on your concerns and my assessment of your physical state, I will insert needles that are about as thin as a strand of hair in specific acupuncture points aimed to treat your specific concerns.

Once I’ve put the needles in the right areas, I will typically dim the lights, put on some calming music or white noise, and leave the room, usually for about 20-30 minutes. Some people take this time to think and relax, meditate, or fall asleep.

Your treatment plan — how often you have sessions, how long they last, where needles are placed, and how many sessions you have overall — will depend on your specific concerns and how you are changing over time. For example, while some people using acupuncture for back pain need just a few sessions to see improvement, others may need more.

Are there any side effects?

Generally, there shouldn’t be. Some people may report a bit of pinching or pain at the needle insertion sites; if this is something you experience, you should tell me, and I will make accommodations to ease that discomfort. Some people also may get small bruises at the insertion sites. Before acupuncturists switched to single-use disposable needles, there was a risk of infection — if needles weren’t cleaned properly between clients, people could get infected with things that clients previous to them had — but this is no longer a significant concern as we use single-use sterile needles which are disposed of after use.  Some people may also feel slightly dizzy or lightheaded coming off the table.  If that happens, take your time in changing your position and let me know so I can help you up and prevent any falls.

Have other questions?