What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?
Many first-time patients are concerned that acupuncture needles will feel like hypodermic injections. They won't. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, flexible needles that you will hardly feel when they are inserted. When the practitioner gently stimulates the needles they may produce a unique sensation that TCM calls de qi. Patients often describe de qi as a heavy, achy pressure, or spreading, traveling feeling. You may also feel an "electrical" sensation moving down the meridian pathways, though this is less common. Most patients find these acupuncture sensations therapeutic and leave the treatment feeling relaxed both mentally and physically.
Acupuncture treatment creates deep relaxation
in both mind and body.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative, so more then one treatment is generally necessary. For acute conditions you can expect to have 10 to 15 treatments, but you will usually begin to feel relief after just the first few. Chronic conditions may take longer to respond, depending on the type, severity, and duration of the condition. Preventative treatments and treatments for general well-being may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
Interview with
Kristine Moyer, L.Ac, LMT
Primary Practitioner at
ACUPOINT HEALTH CONNECTION, Inc.
