How a typical session works
During your first acupuncture treatment, you’ll be taken into a private room to talk about your medical history with your acupuncturist and what areas of your body and joints are in pain.
After a quick physical exam, you’ll lie on a treatment table so your acupuncturist can place needles into certain points. You may lie face up or down depending on what areas of your body your acupuncturist needs access to.
It’s best to wear loose-fitting clothing that can be rolled up or moved out of the way so the technician can easily access various areas of your body. You may also be asked to change into a gown if necessary.
Your acupuncturist will first use alcohol swabs to disinfect the skin before inserting needles at varied points throughout your body. They’re made of stainless steel and are at least ten times thinner than medical needles used for drawing blood or vaccines.
Because of this, insertion is often painless, especially in thicker body areas. You might feel a slight pinch in more sensitive areas like the feet and hands, where the skin is thinner. But needle insertion should be comfortable and well-tolerated without any significant pain.
If you’re going for electroacupuncture, the acupuncture treatment specialist will pass a gentle electric current through the needles. They’ll leave the needles in place for roughly 20 to 30 minutes while you lie back and relax.
The lights in your personal treatment room are usually dimmed, and your acupuncturist will leave the room but check in periodically to see how you’re doing with your treatment.
Sometimes, a heat lamp may be placed over you during treatment. After your treatment, your acupuncturist will remove and dispose of all the needles.
