Does acupuncture hurt?

In general, patients find acupuncture relaxing. The needles used are very fine, often about the size of hairs. You may experience some sensation upon needle insertion and/or manipulation, but generally that sensation only lasts at most a few seconds. You may also experience a feeling of energy moving, tingling, dull achy pain, itching, a wave sensation, or other physical sensations during your treatment. Or you may not feel anything! Each person’s experience is unique. Any of the mild sensations you experience are a good thing—these sensations are often considered the “arrival of qi,” meaning that the point has been activated and is doing its job.

The image below shows that many acupuncture needles can fit in a single hypodermic needle:

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