What do the acupuncture needles feel like?

Acupuncture needles are very thin, solid and are made from stainless steel only for a single use. The point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic needle) and insertion through the skin is not painful like injection or blood sampling. If any sensation is experienced during insertion, it is often compared to a mosquito bite and disappears very quickly. Once the needles are inserted, they will be manipulated to obtain sensation, which in acupuncture terminology is called "De Qi". "De Qi" is the term used for the sensation felt when an acupuncturist (or acupressure practitioner) reaches the level of "Qi" in the body. This sensation may feel like distention or throbbing or an electrical impulse in the area of the acupoint being addressed. Often the sensation radiates down the meridian being addressed. Once the sensation is felt and Qi has been reached, the acupuncturist will leave the needle in place and the sensation will fade. This is how an acupuncturist engages ...  more