Acupuncture and Fear of Needles
“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!
The thought of letting a person stick a bunch of needles all over the place can be scary, but there are a few facts that might ease some of your concerns:
Acupuncture needles are tiny: No, really. When we think of needles, we tend to picture those used for blood draws, vaccines, or finger sticks – all of which can really hurt. That’s because the needles used for these procedures must be large enough and rigid enough to puncture more deeply into the body. And, except for lancets, they have to be hollow because they’re either pulling something out or putting something into the patient’s system.
Acupuncture needles are made with a completely different purpose.
They are solid, flexible, and about 10x thinner than the needles used in traditional medical settings. They’re designed simply to stimulate the targeted area, so they don’t have to be really wide, and they’re often inserted with much less depth – so in many cases, they’re just barely going into the body. Because of this, the amount of sensation a person will experience is far less than they might fear.
Often, you don’t feel them at all, and if you do, it’s a mild sensation that should pass within a second or two.
We’re not going to turn you into a porcupine: There are some crazy images online, where there seem to be needles everywhere in a person getting acupuncture, but that’s not typically what is done. Most treatments use between 2 and 10 needles, and one of our core tenets in acupuncture is to use as few needles as possible to get the desired effect.
Acupuncture needles are sterile: They’re designed to be used one time and then disposed of, just like any other needle for medical use. Acupuncture needles are wrapped in sterile packs that are opened only for you. They are never reused. We are certified in and practice using Clean Needle Technique, which ensures safe needle handling at all times.
We’ll go at your pace: In your first appointment, we’ll talk about your concerns and you’ll be able to ask all of your questions. For some people, it can really help to see the needles, and for others, it’s better if they don’t see them – so we’ll do what works for you. We have some breathing exercises we can do to help ease the tension, as well as a few other tricks that can help to distract you.
And if you come in for your first appointment and decide you just can’t do it? No problem.
We can use acupressure and other tools like moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and herbs to address your concerns. We can move at your pace, because believe it or not, needles aren’t required for an acupuncture treatment!
Hopefully this eases some of the concerns you may have about trying acupuncture. East Asian Medicine and acupuncture are incredibly effective and can have a profound effect on your wellness. It is not uncommon to be a little wary of the needles, so the most important thing you can do is share that with your practitioner.