What are the needles like? Do they hurt?
The length and thickness of the needles used in treatment are determined based on the nature of the patient’s symptom and the location of the body to be treated. In most cases, however, we use two-inch-long stainless needles (we also have silver and gold needles, which we may use when appropriate or when requested by patients). The idea of having metal objects stick into your body may seem scary, but the needles used in acupuncture are of extremely thin types that can hardly cause any pain. Rather, patients often feel a pleasant, refreshing sensation when a needle has been inserted into an acupoint on their bodies. On the other hand, there are cases when a patient feels mild fatigue or dullness/heaviness after a treatment. Called “Mengen” in Eastern medicine, this is a temporary state of discomfort that arises in reaction to acupuncture needling and passes before the body begins to regain full health. You may choose the thickness of the needles to be used for your treatment.
