Does Acupuncture Hurt?

What does Acupuncture feel like?

Everyone’s experience is different, but people are often surprised that a regular session doesn’t actually hurt! The average acupuncture pin is extremely thin; -0.2mm to be exact! What most people react to is the anticipation of a pin, rather than the pin itself.

You might feel a pinch as it goes in, and this can vary from person to person as well as what you’re coming in to get treated. Otherwise, most points won’t even get noticed.

When a point does have a bit of sensation, it is actually seen at a good thing! A bit dull or achy after a treatment is normal and subsides fairly quickly.

Why does Acupuncture sometimes feel stronger?

If you do feel a bit more sensitive to pins it can be for a few reasons:

• If you’re stressed, or in pain, your body can become reactive to pressure and get a bit jumpy. This often lessens the more frequently you have treatments. It’s usually due to your nervous system being on ‘high alert’ and trying to protect you from something unfamiliar. Luckily for you, Acupuncture works directly on regulating the nervous system and this often softens after a few visits.

• Some women feel the pins a little more if their cycle is about to start and they’re already a bit tired or depleted. Once the pin is in, it will settle quite quickly.

• Tight muscles can particularly feel a bit more sensation during a treatment, or a dull/achy/heaviness after a treatment, which is often due to changes in Qi and blood flow around the area & clears fairly quickly in the hours after, and in some cases a day or two of feeling a little like you’ve worked out. Fear not! When freshly oxygenated blood through an area that isn’t used to receiving those nutrients, or releasing a muscle which has been bound up for a while, it can take a little adjusting to & usually means it’s good to have a follow up to further flush things through.

The main thing to remember is that if a pin doesn’t settle down, it can be adjusted to ensure you’re comfortable and can get back to letting your system unwind!