What Is Acupuncture Like?

Learn how acupuncture works to help your body heal and what to expect during an acupuncture treatment.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Needling acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in your muscles, spinal cord and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain or change the body’s response to pain by releasing chemicals and hormones that influence the body’s own internal regulating system. This can lead to pain relief, relaxation and other physiological effects.

“There's two different ways to think about acupuncture in terms of why and how it can be helpful,” said Catherine Reese, MD, CAQSM, an Indianapolis sports medicine specialist with Franciscan Physician Network. “One is through the Traditional Chinese Medicine way of thinking where the body has meridians that flow like rivers and the chi flows in the meridians, and a block in the chi can cause pain and buildup of that chi. And what acupuncture does is you put needles in these certain specific points, and it will help the chi flow better through the acupuncture rivers or the meridians.

“There is also a Western-medicine view of acupuncture where you use these acupuncture points, and it stimulates release of neurotransmitters and other chemicals in the body that help to promote healing in that area and help bring our body back to its normal set point.”

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can affect the activity of the immune system and reduce , which may contribute to its therapeutic effects.

What Can Be Treated With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been studied extensively as a treatment for various medical conditions. While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of acupuncture, scientific evidence suggests that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for several medical conditions. Here are some examples:

• Chronic pain: Acupuncture is perhaps best known for its ability to treat chronic pain, such as lower back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis. Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture can help to reduce pain and improve physical function in people with these conditions.
• Headaches and migraines: Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines.
• Anxiety and depression: Some studies have shown that acupuncture can be a helpful adjunct treatment for people with anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture is particularly useful in resolving physical problems related to tension, stress and emotional conditions.

It's important to note that while acupuncture can be a helpful treatment for these conditions, it should not be used as a replacement for conventional medical care. If you're considering acupuncture, talk to your doctor first to ensure it's safe and appropriate for your specific health needs.

Is Acupuncture A Substitute For Other Medical Treatments?

“Acupuncture treatments can be used in conjunction with other treatments It's not something that has to be a standalone treatment,” Dr. Reese said. “Often, I will have my patients do physical therapy, or home exercises as an adjunct to acupuncture treatments. You can be on medications, or get chiropractic care or massage without interfering with acupuncture. .

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

Acupuncture can be used to treat many conditions across the respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurologic systems of the body, just to name a few. The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in a wide range of orthopedic and sports medicine problems.

While considered an alternative medicine treatment, medical research shows the health benefits of acupuncture, including using acupuncture to help with pain management, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression and more.

“In the past 2,000 years, more people have been successfully treated with acupuncture than with all other treatment modalities combined,” Dr. Reese said. “It is now being used more and more in America by patients and physicians. Acupuncture treatments can be given at the same time other techniques are being used, such as conventional Western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments, and exercise therapy and rehab. It is important your acupuncturist knows everything you are doing so you can get the most benefit from all treatments.”

What Will My First Acupuncture Appointment Be Like?

At your first acupuncture appointment, your doctor or acupuncture practitioner will ask a series of questions regarding body temperature, pain, digestion, elimination, eyes, ears, energy, sleep patterns and quality of life physically, emotionally and spiritually.

“We'll spend a lot of time talking,” Dr. Reese said. “We'll go through an in-depth history to identify Life circumstances that might contribute to your pain or injury. Then, we will typically do an exam, and a little bit of needling that first visit just to give you a trial of acupuncture. From there, I'll plan treatments that are tailored to your condition.”

Where Are Acupuncture Needles Placed?

During an acupuncture appointment, the practitioner will choose the acupuncture points that relate to those areas of concern.

Needles will be inserted in acupuncture points along the meridians of the body. The ear is a popular location to treat many different conditions. The ear points are reflexive of the whole body. Needles also may be placed in acupuncture points in the arms, hands, feet or legs. The placement of needles relates to the areas of imbalance and how the energy flow needs to be affected. Specific treatment protocols are set up for each patient.

Do Acupuncture Needles Hurt?

People experience acupuncture needling differently. For most people, the acupuncture needles cause little or no discomfort. Sometimes if the acupuncturist is targeting a specific condition, the body may react to the focused energy flow through that area and there may be an achiness or discomfort for a few minutes as the energy works to balance that area. 

“The needles are nowhere near as painful as injections or blood sampling or anything like that. They're much thinner and smaller and bend easily,” Dr. Reese said.

Made from stainless steel, the thin acupuncture needles have a smooth point (not hollow like a hypodermic needle). Each needle is sterilized and disposable, and the risk of infection from the needles is very low.

How Many Acupuncture Needles Are Used?

The number of acupuncture needles used depends on your specific treatment plan. The acupuncturist can place as few as two needles or as many as 40, depending on what is being treated and how the energy needs to be directed. The acupuncture needles are generally left in for 20 to 30 minutes. They can be left in longer, but 20 minutes is generally the length of time it takes for the treatment to complete.

How Many Acupuncture Treatments Will I Need?

The number of acupuncture treatments needed varies from person to person. For complex or long-standing conditions, one or two treatments a week for several months may be recommended. For acute problems, usually fewer visits are required. A good rule of thumb is to expect one session a week for six weeks.

What Are The Side Effects Of Acupuncture?

There are usually no negative side effects to acupuncture treatment. As energy is redirected in the body, internal chemicals and hormones are stimulated and healing begins. Occasionally the original symptoms flare for a few days, or other general changes in sleep or emotional state may be triggered. It’s quite common with one or two treatments to have a sensation of deep relaxation or even mild disorientation immediately following the treatment. These pass within a short time and resolve with rest.

The most common side effects of acupuncture include better sleep, more energy, mental clarity, better digestion and less stress. One or several of these side effects occur routinely for many patients.

Other side effects of acupuncture that are less welcome are:

• Sometimes following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better.
• People can feel tired after acupuncture. The fatigue after acupuncture is your body telling you that it's depleted. Feeling fatigued after acupuncture is not cause for concern, but it is a sign that you need to rest.
• Body parts where acupuncture needles get inserted can feel sore after needles are removed. Soreness from acupuncture typically dissipates within 24 hours. 
• Although less common than soreness, bruising can occur at the needling site. These bruises usually don't hurt and last a few days after the treatment. There is no treatment necessary, and bruises will heal on their own.
• People may experience involuntary muscle twitching during or after acupuncture. This is no cause for concern - it generally only happens once and is over before you can summon the acupuncturist.

Rarely, post-acupuncture lightheadedness can result in fainting. Getting up too quickly from the acupuncture table can cause lightheadedness, as can arriving for an acupuncture treatment on an empty stomach. Remember that eating is one of the key things to remember before an acupuncture appointment. Most of the time there is no danger of fainting, and the lightheadedness lasts only seconds.

Are There Any Dos And Don’ts For Me On The Day Of An Acupuncture Treatment?

To enhance the value of an acupuncture treatment, your daily routine may be altered the day of your acupuncture treatment.

“On treatment day, we usually recommend that patients take it easy and not do anything strenuous,” Dr. Reese said.

Keep in mind these tips for the day of your acupuncture appointment:

• Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or following a treatment.
• Do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consume alcoholic beverages within 6 hours before or after treatment.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing to your appointment.
• Drink plenty of water before and after your appointment. Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol.
• Plan your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at least not have to be working at top performance. This is especially important for the first few visits.
• Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your doctor.
• Keep notes of what your response is to the treatment. This is important for your doctor to know so that the follow up treatments can be designed to best help you and your problem.

As with any medical treatment, it's important to consult with a licensed healthcare professional before starting acupuncture therapy.