Lakeville Acupuncture: Common Myths

Acupuncture needles contain some kind of medicine.

Acupuncture needles are packaged sterile and are single use, disposable. This means the needles are sterile in the package until opened, then immediately inserted into the patient’s cleaned skin.

After the treatment they are disposed of and never used a second time. Acupuncturists follow a “clean needle” protocol which protects both the patient and the acupuncturist.

Acupuncture works by hypnotic suggestion.

Acupuncture has been used for over 5000 years by millions of people. If traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture was placebo or suggestion that would be very skilled hypnotism!

No, acupuncture does not work by suggestion. Acupuncture treatment is even commonly given to animals with very good results. It also has an excellent record treating children, who also do not have preconceived notions of acupuncture.

Acupuncture treatments are painful.

This is the thought on most new patients mind when I meet them for the first time, needle phobic or not. Everyone’s experience and pain tolerances are different. Some people feel nothing when the acupuncture needles are inserted, others may feel a slight prick.

Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible. About 10 acupuncture needles can fit inside of a standard hypodermic needle used for inoculations.

Relaxation is a common side effect of acupuncture treatment, and people are not in pain during their treatments. It is important to speak up if something feels uncomfortable or a needle sensation is too strong. Your practitioner wants to know about it and will adjust the needle to make you feel comfortable.