What You Should Know About Acupuncture

Chances are you've heard of acupuncture. The world of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is far richer than just getting poked with needles and meditating. Though TCM is widely practiced, it remains somewhat esoteric in the states (via Mayo Clinic). It is, however, well regulated, so you can rest assured knowing that your practitioner has been through rigorous training to earn their credentials.

Acupuncture is one of the many elements of TCM, which is medicine rooted in ancient healing techniques. Doctors of TCM view the body holistically and work to heal the entirety of the body, not just a single symptom of illness. Chi, or energy, flows through your body along tiny highways called meridians. Each acupuncture point on each meridian is directly correlated to a visceral organ system (via Nature). As the Mayo Clinic explained, blocked energy pathways can cause illness, pain, and myriad other ailments. Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points along these energetic highways. This stimulation encourages the movement of chi, which can have exceptional healing benefits. Acupuncture is used to ease physical and energetic disharmony.

We rounded up all of the information you need to know about acupuncture. Armed with this knowledge, we hope you can decide whether or not it is right for you.

Acupuncture is rooted in the ancient balance of yin and yang, a cosmic theory relating to duality (via Acupuncture Massage College). The yin is soft, dark, and feminine, and it is represented by the earth element. The yang is lively, sunny, energetic, and masculine, which is represented by the heavens. These two components come together to create perfect symmetry and harmony. This perfect balance of dualistic principles is what TCM is all about. The practice of acupuncture is manipulating these two forces to culminate in free-flowing, healthy, energetic pathways.

Acupuncture is said to stimulate self-healing by awakening specific acupressure/acupuncture points. Case studies have provided evidence that acupuncture can ease the symptoms and help treat many ailments (via UC San Diego School of Medicine). These conditions include but are not limited to hay fever, depression, morning sickness, hypertension, hypotension, low back pain, and more. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to induce labor, assist in correcting fetal malposition, and more. Studies are ongoing, and there is some evidence to suggest that acupuncture may be able to ease the symptoms of alcohol dependence, acne, cancer pain, diabetes, and many more.

The idea of being prodded with needles repeatedly definitely doesn't sound like something one would rush to sign up for. In fact, acupuncture gets a bad rap based on that idea alone. However, acupuncture is far less painful than it sounds like it would be.

Not only are acupuncture needles tiny, but they remain on the surface of your skin. As such, the application usually doesn't draw blood. Occasionally, a needle will be placed in an area with many nerves, which can cause a slightly painful sensation. But as licensed and certified acupuncturist Prajna Paramita Choudhury told Healthline, "Most [people being treated] don't feel anything. Most of the time what might be described as pain is a chi sensation. It can be heavy, throbbing, or jumping, all of which are positive responses." Ultimately, the pain dissipates within a few seconds (via Healthline). While the mere concept of having someone stick needles in your skin is daunting, we can tell you that it's not as scary as it sounds.

Acupuncturists often perform acupressure on their patients. Acupressure uses the same philosophies as acupuncture. It is all about holistically balancing the body by encouraging the flow of chi along the 12 meridians. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure is executed by exerting pressure with the fingers or a blunt acupressure device. Most commonly, acupressure is used to quell nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. Acupressure has been proven to provide relief for many other conditions as well (via WebMD).

Since traditional Chinese medicine is holistic, acupuncturists survey the entire body when creating a treatment plan. Often in an appointment with an acupuncturist, you will be asked to stick out your tongue for a "tongue diagnosis" (via Verywell Health). The coating of your tongue changes, and it can be a reflection of what is going on deep within your body. You can expect your acupuncturist to look at your tongue and palpate your body in specific areas to get a better understanding of what might be causing your discomfort (per Verywell Health).

Acupuncture highlights the link between consciousness and organ function, which often attracts people looking to deepen their spirituality. This may make you wonder if acupuncture is its own religion (via Acupuncture Today). But, no, it's not. As the Blue Ridge Acupuncture Clinic explained, it's a misconception that "acupuncture and Chinese medicine are connected to or imply the use of eastern religion. While it is true that the history of acupuncture is diverse and that it originated in a culture embedded in Taoist, Confucianist and Buddhist thought, the same is true of western medicine which has its roots in Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

Of course, some acupuncturists may display Buddhist or Hindu icons, but many mainstream TCM institutions do not teach any Eastern philosophies as a part of their curriculum (via Acupuncture Today). And acupuncture can benefit people regardless of their religious beliefs. As the clinic further highlighted, "Acupuncture is a science, just as western medicine is a science, but it is a science of the flow of energetics within the body and it is based in thousands of years of observation."

Since traditional Chinese medicine is not totally mainstream, the use of needles may seem unregulated. We understand that fear, but we are here to put your worried mind at ease. Acupuncture needles are disposable, meaning they're used only once (via American Institute of Alternative Medicine).

Reusing acupuncture needles is not standard practice and thus should absolutely not be tolerated. Doctors of Chinese Medicine are required to adhere to strict biohazard laws when it comes to treatments. This includes proper disposal of needles in a red sharps container (via Department of Environmental Protection). 

Acupuncturists use sterile steel needles with each patient, the Cleveland Clinic detailed. During your treatment, you will be able to see your practitioner remove the needles from their sterile packaging. Acupuncturists hold the needles by the tightly wound coils atop each needle, which further prevents any risk of cross-contamination. We know that embarking on a new health journey can be scary. Thankfully, the notion of reusing acupuncture needles should never have to cross your mind again!

You may be surprised at the lag time you experience on the acupuncture table. Typically, a practitioner will place their needles and then give you space. This leaves you alone in the room with only your thoughts to keep you company — gasp. Most practitioners leave the needles in place for 10 to 20 minutes and expect you to focus on relaxation during that time (via Mayo Clinic).

Your acupuncturist may also ask you to silence your phone (via Shen Medicine). It isn't easy to scroll or text with those needles in place anyway. As a part of the healing process, doctors of traditional Chinese medicine generally provide an environment conducive to relaxation. Typically the lights are dimmed, and there may be soft, instrumental music playing in the background, explained Kaiser Permanente.

The best thing to do when left alone during a session is to relax consciously. This looks different for everyone, but many acupuncturists offer breathing tips to aid in the process. During your session, it is advisable to lean into the gift of relaxation. Your ability to relax will help yield many beneficial results that acupuncture can offer.

Veterinary acupuncture has become more popular in recent years. While this is an easy notion to dismiss, a report in Veterinary Medicine revealed that acupuncture can have huge benefits in animals too. Much research has focused on neurological dysfunction or orthopedic pain in lab animals, and acupuncture may be able to aid in joint mobility in dogs with arthritis. "Given the low risk of adverse effects and observed benefits for animal health and well-being, acupuncture should be considered as a potential tool in all veterinarian treatment strategies," the report revealed.

Unfortunately, you can't take your pet with you to your acupuncturist for a doggy-and-me session. Only veterinarians are allowed to perform acupuncture on animals. Licensed vets can attend a special veterinary acupuncture course and earn a certification to practice on pets (via Tufts University). We are going to round up our cats and go check out veterinary acupuncture right meow!