FAQ

The short answer is “No”. If you’re nervous about trying acupuncture, you’re not alone! Many people feel unsure at first, especially if they’re worried about needles. How can it possibly not be painful when sharp needles are inserted to the body! However, acupuncture is actually a gentle and low-risk treatment that is much more comfortable than most people expect.

‍What to Expect During Treatment:
‍Acupuncture needles are extremely thin—much thinner, about 10 to 12 times, than those used for injections or drawing blood. Most people only feel a light tingling or slight pressure as the needles are placed, and it’s common to feel relaxed during and after the session. For some, it’s so relaxing that they even fall asleep! The sensation is usually minimal, and any discomfort fades quickly.

‍Low Risk of Side Effects:
‍Acupuncture has been used safely for thousands of years and, when performed by a licensed practitioner, it carries a very low risk of side effects. Unlike medications or certain procedures, acupuncture doesn’t involve chemicals or extremely invasive techniques. Minor side effects, like a slight feeling of tiredness or minor soreness, can happen but typically resolve quickly. Serious side effects are extremely rare when treatment is conducted by a trained professional.

If you have more questions about the effects and risks of acupuncture, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time, and a practitioner will be happy to discuss your concerns with you. 

Acupuncture works through harnessing a number of physiological mechanisms. To answer this question, let us first think about what happens when a needle is inserted. A needle that is inserted causes physiological effects in three main areas.

1. Local
2. Segmental
3. Central nervous system

‍Firstly, the local area is affected. When a needle is inserted into the body in the injury area, the sensory nerves that innervate any part of our body and allow us to ‘feel’ things are mechanically stimulated. When this stimulation occurs, neuropeptides - amino acids that communicate with other cells and regulate physiological processes - are released. One of them is called the “calcitonin gene-related peptide” (CGRP). The CGRP increases blood flow to the area and also induces the growth of new blood vessels in the area. This helps with injury recovery. Think of how when we suffer a minor injury such as a papercut. Our body naturally rushes to produce all sorts of “healing materials” to help us recover - clotting the blood, making new tissue to bridge the gap, sending white blood cells to fight any potential pathogens, etc. Acupuncture’s local effect is much like this. By harnessing our body’s own natural capacity toward healing, we are able to direct that healing power where it is needed.

Furthermore, endorphin, adenosine, and other endogenous opioids are released from the local tissue and help the patient feel less pain by reducing the stimulation of nearby cells to painful stimuli. The local insertion of needles may also help with loosening knotted muscle tissue and deactivating myofascial trigger points that are present in the tissue area due to overly strenuous use or injury.

‍Secondly, acupuncture needles impact the bodily “segment” where they are needled. To explain this point, first we must understand that the spine is connected to the body in specific segments. The skin, the muscle, the bone, and even the internal organs are connected to specific spine segments ranging from the first cervical spine to the last sacral spine. When a part of the body is needled, the sensory information this creates travels up the nerve pathway to a place called the dorsal horn, changing the way the nociceptive information is perceived. This is the “gate-control” theory of acupuncture pain relief. In layman’s terms, the needle is essentially dialing the “pain-control” knob of our body a couple of notches down from a 10 to a 7 or 8. Acupuncture may also help our organ system by altering how the nervous system functions. The autonomic nervous system controls the function of body organs, continuously adjusting output or muscle tone to maintain homeostasis. Muscle tone is constantly regulated not only based on an individual's emotional and physical state but also in reflexive response to information from the internal organs themselves. This muscle tone represents a balance between the sympathetic output, which prepares the body for a "fight-or-flight" response in times of crisis, and the parasympathetic output, which governs everyday, regular, and stable functions referred to as "rest-and-digest." Sympathetic output is triggered by cells located in the lateral horn of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine.

Acupuncture reduces the response of postsynaptic neurons by disrupting the visceral nociceptive (pain) pathways in a way similar to its suppression of somatic pain. Through this mechanism, it inhibits autonomic reflexes related to lateral horn neurons involved in processing visceral nociceptive information. Therefore, acupuncture can inhibit nociceptive stimuli in visceral organs such as the intestines, bladder, and uterus. Again in layman’s terms, imagine the acupuncture needle as a construction worker holding a big “STOP” sign in the middle of the road. With acupuncture, pain signals from our internal organs that would have traveled freely to our brain have a formidable foe to contend with. 

‍Finally, the research has shown acupuncture also affects the central nervous system, influencing relaxation, mood and emotions, the autonomic nervous system, various hormonal systems, and other central functions (e.g., nausea). We refer to these effects of acupuncture as “central regulation,” meaning, in short, that acupuncture’s general effects help restore homeostasis. To illustrate using scientific terms, these effects are controlled across multiple regions of the brain, including association cortices in various areas (e.g., prefrontal and temporal cortices), deep brain structures (e.g., limbic system and hypothalamus), and parts of the brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla), as well as beyond the primary cortical areas (motor, sensory, visual, and auditory cortices). Autonomic nerve nuclei in the brainstem are regulated by the hypothalamus, which in turn is influenced by the limbic system. Low-frequency electroacupuncture releases neuropeptides in the central nervous system, including serotonin, oxytocin, and beta-endorphin. The key regulation of autonomic output appears to involve beta-endorphin released from the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus) and the brainstem (nucleus of the solitary tract). The takeaway from this for you as a patient is that this central autonomic effect has shown to be effective in treating various symptoms such as immune responses, drug dependency, nausea, and vomiting. Increasingly, researchers and scientists conclude that acupuncture is effective in managing chronic symptoms.

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Sources:
White, Adrian, et al. An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture. Elsevier. New York: 2018. Stux, Gabriel, et al. Basics of Acupuncture. Springer. New York: 2013.