Is Acupuncture Painful?

This is probably the number one question we are asked on a daily basis. Sometimes even the patient is too afraid to bring it up first. The answer is no! It absolutely does not have to be painful. First of all we use tiny pins. They are so tiny about 15-20 of them can fit inside a an injection needle (shot needle). Secondly, an injection needle needs to be hollow so it can push fluid through the middle without breaking. Injection needles have to be much thicker! Our tiny pins are solid, very thin and flexible.

At Green Acupuncture, our goal is to tailor our treatment style to you. Did you know

15 (30-gauge) Acupuncture needles in an 18-gauge injection needle. Guiding tubes shown on the right.

that there are many types of Acupuncture styles/schools? In fact, different countries have different styles of Acupuncture. For example Chinese style Acupuncture is typically very aggressive, longer/ thicker needles, deeper insertion the goal is to make you feel sensation from the needle. Japanese style Acupuncture is on the opposite end of the spectrum. It is very gentle with smaller/thinner needles. We provide a wide variety of Acupuncture techniques and tools to deliver the right treatment for you. We also offer other non-needle therapies like Gua Sha, Moxibustion, Cupping, and Tui Na massage.

Finally, most needles come with a guide tube which is used to reduce sensation during treatment. According to tradition it was invented in Japan. The story goes a blind Acupuncturist tripped over a reed while walking. Inside the reed was a small pine needle that stuck in his leg. He then realized it was possible to use the reed to insert the needle without pain. From this incident the first guide tube was inspired. The invention of the guide tube allows the Acupuncturist to insert needles without discomfort.