A key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture is an alternative complementary therapy that focuses on the improvement of a person's overall wellbeing by stimulating specific points, called acupoints, in the body using thin needles to relieve pain and treat various health conditions.
Acupuncture does not usually cause pain or discomfort. It is a common misconception that acupuncture hurts, and a reason why some people are hesitant to try it. The treatment is not meant to hurt, but during the treatment, the patient may experience some sensations.
These sensations vary between people, depending on their overall sensitivity and level of pain tolerance. Sometimes, the first acupuncture session will be more painful than the succeeding treatments because certain acupoints are being activated for the first time.
Research has shown that acupuncture may have a role in relieving tension headaches and migraines. It can also help alleviate pain and other symptoms that are associated with the following conditions:
During the initial treatment session, the acupuncturist will ask the patient about their medical history to identify the root cause of their health problem. Following the principles of diagnosis in TCM, the acupuncturist may examine the patient's tongue and take their pulse on either wrist. Then, they will ask the patient to lie down on a treatment table and start inserting sterile, disposable needles into specific acupoints.
Acupuncture needles are painless, but a slight tingling sensation may be felt as they're being inserted into the skin. The needles will be left to stay in for about 20 minutes to stimulate the meridians. An acupuncture session may last for 30 minutes, and the patient is advised to receive at least two treatments a week for several months until their body has regained homeostasis.
Acupuncture is highly recommended as an adjunct to other natural therapies or conventional medicine.
