What to expect?
So you’ve decided to give acupuncture a go, but you’re not too sure what to expect. No sweat, most practitioners offer a short consultation to better understand your health complaints and objectives. The treatment itself is performed lying down, and once you’re comfortable, anything from six to twenty needles will be gently inserted then left for around 5 to 20 minutes. Most people feel little to no pain as the fine needles are placed; a lot of the time, you'll feel a prick often followed by a tingling feeling. Post treatment, patients report that they feel deeply relaxed and super chill.
If you're nervous about becoming a human pincushion, you might be relieved to know that acupuncture needles (about the same width as a human hair) are not inserted like an injection, so you won't experience the same feeling.
Know before you go
- Acupuncture is first mentioned in the Book of Chinese Medicine dating back to the first century BC, making it one of the most widely respected and recognised Chinese medical practices.
- If you're nervous about becoming a human pincushion, you might be relieved to know that acupuncture needles (about the same width as a human hair) are not inserted like an injection, so you won't experience the same feeling.
- You can find acupuncture services everywhere, from inside shopping centres to local salons, but we suggest you go for an acupuncturist accredited by the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) to ensure a safe and professional treatment.
The sciencey stuff
Acupuncture can treat a range of musculoskeletal problems (back pain and general muscle tension) to infertility, stress, anxiety and depression. How? It is said that acupuncture aids the self-healing process by stimulating specific areas on the body - commonly known as acupoints or acupuncture points. By kickstarting the body’s internal systems, acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi (energy) which should naturally flow along pathways, called meridians, around the body. Ouch to ooh!
