The first thing everyone wants to know about acupuncture is whether the needles hurt when they are inserted. The answer is NO! When the needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points, they are not felt at all. Many patients have been surprised when I’ve told them that some of their needles were already inserted because they didn’t feel them go in. The needles that are used are much thinner than blood-draw or shot needles. And the acupuncture points have a different electrical resistance than the other skin surfaces on the body. When the two are combined correctly, there is no sensation of pain.

Acupuncture is used to treat almost any health condition that people or animals can have. It’s very effective for treating pain. Back pain, headaches and knee pain all respond very well to acupuncture treatments. Indigestion, sinus congestion and allergies are also very common complaints that respond well to acupuncture. Some of my patients have reported that they needed less insulin for their diabetes when they were getting acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture can help infertility, and a number of pregnancies have occurred for women acupuncture patients who had been previously unsuccessful using other fertility treatments. Children’s ear infections, congestion and colds all respond very well to the combination of chiropractic and acupuncture. While we don’t insert needles into children under the age of puberty, tapping the acupuncture points works well for them. Research has shown that acupuncture is effective in lowering blood pressure for many people with hypertension. Even patients with terminal diseases like cancer can be treated with acupuncture to raise their energy levels and to give them a greater sense of well-being during their treatments and convalescence.