Acupuncture: The Business of Stabbing People?

I do want to start by saying that what I am going to cover is based on my own experience and training. Another practitioner may have differing opinions and that’s totally ok. I always tell my patients that they could go to 3 different acupuncturists for the same ailment and get 3 completely different treatments that work equally as well. 

Does Acupuncture really work?

Well, considering I spent five years completing a master’s and doctoral program to practice it, I really hope so. If not, I’ve got a very expensive collection of diplomas I can use as wall décor.  In all honesty, acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. Things generally don’t stick around long if they don’t have something going for them. Besides my many happy patients, studies have shown acupuncture to be effective in treating a variety of conditions including pain, anxiety and depression, digestive issues, fertility issues and more, both alone and in combination with conventional medicine. 

Acupuncture has also shown amazing results in veterinary medicine. Considering
Fido has no preconceived notions regarding acupuncture, and still gets results is a pretty good review in my book. 

Does acupuncture hurt?

Contrary to the insinuations in the title of this episode, in my practice, my mission is to make each treatment as comfortable as possible. I even had one patient who was terrified of needles but desperate for some pain relief come to me as a last resort. He said he wanted to close his eyes and asked me to not tell him when I inserted the needles. A couple of minutes later, he changed his mind and said “wait, tell me before you needle me!” Problem was, I was already done inserting all of the needles! See, acupuncture needles are extremely thin, about the width of a cat’s whisker. Whereas a needle used for injections is thicker and hollow which leads to more pain, acupuncture needles are solid and sometimes even coated in silicone for smoother insertion. You may feel a slight pinch as it’s inserted and patients sometimes report feeling an ache or heaviness which is totally normal but should not be uncomfortable.  

Okay, so now that we’ve debunked the pain factor, let’s talk about something else that comes up a lot—

How many sessions will I need?

Everyone is different but generally the longer you’ve had a condition, the more treatments you’ll need. I like to do treatments more frequently in the beginning and then start to spread them out as we start seeing results. Consistency is key when it comes to acupuncture, especially at the start.  

I sometimes use the metaphor of a bucket with a small hole in the bottom. If you pour a cup of water in the bucket and leave it for a long period of time, by the time you get back it will be bone dry and you’ll have to start over. But if you pour a few cups of water in, one after another, you can then go longer periods of time without the bucket going dry. Acupuncture is the same. You want to get yourself to a therapeutic point where the benefits ‘hold’ for longer and that takes consistent treatments from the start. Once we’ve built up that foundation, we can space treatments out more and keep you feeling great without starting from scratch every time.  Your acupuncture practitioner will take a thorough history and create a treatment plan specifically for you.

Is acupuncture only for pain?

Definitely not! Many people are surprised to hear that acupuncture treats a lot more than just back pain. I mainly specialize in stress and anxiety but acupuncture also treats headaches, stomach issues and fertility among other things. Many rehab clinics utilize auricular (or ear) acupuncture for addictions. Acupuncture is also amazing for general wellness and preventative care, one thing our society doesn’t put enough emphasis on.

One question I get a lot is “Do you reuse needles?”

Absolutely not! All of our needles are sterile, single use needles that are disposed of into a biohazard sharps container after use. Fun fact, historically, acupuncture needles were often reused and sometimes passed down through generations. I had a teacher tell me that acupuncturists even used to warm the needles in their mouths prior to inserting them into their patients! Obviously, if you see that done today, run! I also want to point out that there’s nothing on the needle, unless your acupuncturist is doing acupoint injection therapy.

My physical therapist did acupuncture! Or what’s the deal with dry needling?

Oh boy…this is a very charged question in the world of acupuncture so buckle up!  The simplest way of explaining this is that all dry needling is acupuncture, but not all acupuncture is dry needling. I like to say that dry needling is the western term used for one technique that we use in acupuncture that has been adopted by physical therapists and chiropractors. 

Dry needling focuses on targeting specific muscle trigger points, those tight knots you get in your muscles that feel like little boulders. Acupuncture, on the other hand, takes a broader approach by using needles in various locations across the body to promote overall healing and balance. You could think of dry needling as a very focused approach, kind of like fixing a flat tire, while acupuncture is like giving the whole car a tune-up.

The bottom line is, both techniques use needles, and both can help with pain relief and muscle tension. The difference is really in the approach: dry needling is more specific to muscle points, while acupuncture may involve a wider range of techniques. So, if you’ve had dry needling and are curious about acupuncture, just know that you’re getting a bit more of the full needle experience with an acupuncturist!

I will provide a couple of links in the show notes with more information if you’re interested.

Is it woo-woo?

Great question! I totally get why people might feel skeptical about acupuncture, it can seem a bit mysterious at first. But here’s the deal: acupuncture is actually a well-established treatment that’s been used for thousands of years. While some people may associate it with ‘energy’ or ‘mystical forces,’ acupuncture in modern practice is recognized by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), and studies have found it helpful for managing conditions like chronic pain, headaches, and even stress. Research has shown that acupuncture can stimulate the nervous system, improve blood flow, and help the body release natural painkillers.

It’s also recognized by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), and studies have found it helpful for managing conditions like chronic pain, headaches, and even stress. So, no, it’s not woo-woo, it’s a legitimate therapeutic option that works, backed by both tradition and science.

That being said, there’s an acupuncturist out there for everyone. There are some who are very science oriented and clinical and there are some who combine crystals, tarot and energy readings. Personally, I like to meet my patients where they are.