When performing acupuncture, we use sterilized, single-use stainless steel needles, carefully inserted into specific points on the body based on your individual diagnosis. Each treatment typically involves 10–15 or more points, though fewer needles can be used for patients who are more sensitive. The needles are usually retained for 5–20 minutes.

Acupuncture Procedure at Tong Shen TCM Clinic

Acupuncture needles are inserted into empty spaces and crevices in your body where there are minimal structures in the way. Unlike giving blood, acupuncture needles are not inserted into blood vessels which can feel sharp, burning, and hot. Acupuncture needles are called ‘filiform’, meaning they are solid, unlike hypodermic needles used to draw blood, which are hollow inside. Acupuncture needles are 1/4 to 1/10 the size of needles used to draw blood, so they are very unlike the needles most people have a fear of!

After a discussion, points will be selected to treat your condition. The point will be located on the skin and then the needle will be tapped into the point to break the skin barrier. Most of our nerve endings are on the skin, so there will be a slight pricking sensation when the needle passes through the skin. The needle will then be inserted to the desired depth and manipulation will begin.

The point of needle manipulation is to do something called ‘finding the Qi sensation’. You can expect to feel the needle twisting back and forth, but the Qi sensation is something different. The Qi sensation should feel like it is surrounding the end of the needle. There can be a range of sensations to describe this feeling such as dull, achey, heavy, sinking, pulling, distention, pressure, and many more. Sensations that are less desirable but also possible are sharp, poking, hot/burning, and electrical (these also happen less often). In an ideal situation, the sensation around the end of the needle will build slowly to the point where it is slightly uncomfortable. When the Qi sensation is achieved, the patient will communicate with the practitioner that they have felt it and manipulation will stop. After that, the sensation around the needle should drop to nothing or nearly nothing. If the needle remains uncomfortable, a slight adjustment can be made to the depth to help the patient feel comfortable again. The needle will be retained and may be stimulated again during the treatment depending on the patient’s condition and tolerance for stimulation.

What to expect after needling

When the needle comes out, there may be a slight amount of bleeding. The practitioner will use a cotton ball to press on the insertion point to stop the bleeding. There can be bruising around the site if the needle came close to a blood vessel. These can take 2-7 days to resolve. There can be an electrical or numbness/tingling sensation around the needle site if the needle came to close to a nerve and irritated it. There can be soreness around the area of needling for 1-3 days following treatment. Soreness around the area is a positive thing! It shows that the body is responding to the treatment, just like having soreness after a workout at the gym! There can be changes in energy, ranging from being a bit tired or relaxed to feeling a bit more energized. Since the acupuncture created a response in the body to move things around, there can also be changes in urination and bowel movements. An example would be removing heat from your body. If heat was removed during treatment, there could be hot or burning urination or a hot bowel movement. This does not mean that the treatment gave the patient a urinary tract infection, it just means the body is using it’s normal pathways to remove heat and get back to equilibrium.

Patients may also experience changes in mood, appetite, digestion, energy, and sleep quality in addition to changes in the chief complaint. Many patients report that many or all of these things change in a positive direction, but a range of outcomes are possible. If anything is uncomfortable, patients can communicate directly with the practitioner through text or on the phone to address any concerns.

How many times do I need to do acupuncture to get the benefit?

Acupuncture treatments are cumulative. Some patients feel a benefit from their first treatment and that effect keeps building. Other patients may not see significant benefits until the fifth or sixth treatments. It is recommended that you plan for six to ten treatments for your initial course of treatment to get the best benefits from acupuncture. Many patients come to the clinic with chronic health conditions that have been going on for many years. It is hard to imagine that an hour of any type of therapy would even begin to solve many health problems. Just like going to the gym, starting a new diet, or any other new habit, sticking to it regularly over a period of time will give the best chance for it to bring real benefits. If acupuncture is not bringing the benefits you want, please ask to be referred to a different practitioner. It is important to keep working on our health throughout our lives, so please don’t give up or get discouraged if something isn’t working!

Many patients who come into the clinic keep coming on a semi-regular basis to continue receiving the benefits from acupuncture. Some patients choose to keep coming in weekly, while others space their appointments out to once every 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Getting regular acupuncture is helpful to continue activating the body’s natural processes. Once you find a form of health care that your body responds well to (whether it be acupuncture or something else), it is important to keep doing that therapy regularly! Our health is something we should be constantly looking to improve, and treating ourselves on a regular basis before disease and dysfunction manifest is a great way to ensure a long and healthy life!