On the first treatment, a complete intake is taken, which includes obtaining a thorough history of a patient’s health and chief complaints, performing a physical exam. The acupuncturist uses diagnostic techniques, including pulse-taking – the three pulse positions on each wrist correspond to the major body organs – and observing the tongue, complexion and other signs.

Modern acupuncture needles are made from very fine stainless steel and are from one to three inches long. They are pre-sterilized, non-toxic and disposable. Ten to 20 needles are placed in acupoints per treatment and retained for between 20 and 40 minutes depending on the issue, age and condition of the patient.

The number of treatments needed to treat a particular complaint varies with each person, depending on the severity and duration of the condition and his/her level of overall health. Two to three treatments may be sufficient for an acute condition, while a series of more may be needed for chronic conditions. It is also wise to have regular treatments once the body is healthy to keep it in harmony and prevent disease.

The tiny needles in acupuncture are the thickness of a hair. When they are inserted, it is important that the patient feels a warmth, tingling, a dull ache, or a pulling sensation which means that the energy has been engaged. Occasionally points may feel sore when a needle is inserted but this only means that the point is really needed. This can happen in the case of pain treatments when releasing blocked energy can mean there is an initial feeling of discomfort at a point, but this soon disappears.

The depth of insertion can vary depending on the point used, the size and constitution of the patient, the season of the year and the nature of the illness. Most needles are inserted just below the skin or between the muscles. Commonly the depth varies from 1mm to about 2cm.

Acupuncture does not cause damage to the nerves, blood vessels, muscles or any other body system. There is no danger of contracting disease as all needles are used on one patient only and are disposable.