Nope, not really! There can be some sensation involved when needles are inserted, but it tends to feel more like a pinch, a prick, or pressure, rather than a painful sensation. And quite often, you don’t feel it going in at all.

This is a great question to ask your practitioner, because the answer will very much depend on your particular case. There isn’t a universal rule of thumb for how long things take because there are so many variables involved. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are highly individualized treatment modalities. Even if two people came in for seemingly the same thing – say, treatment for left shoulder pain – odds are, they would receive very different treatments!

“I really want to try acupuncture, but I’m nervous about the needles.”

I promise, you are not alone. This is really common, and we can work through it! And, before we get into it, let me just confess that I too have to look away and take deep breaths when I’m having blood drawn, or I’ll get nauseous – so again, you’re not alone!