Acupuncture 101 – What to Expect from an Acupuncture Treatment

The two most common reactions I get when I tell people that I’m an acupuncturist are 1) “Oh my gosh, that’s so awesome, I need to get on your schedule as soon as possible” or 2) “Oh my gosh, I hate needles, I will never come to see you.” I hope this article clarifies myths, misconceptions and unknowns surrounding acupuncture and encourages you to try something new to take control of your health!


QUESTION 1: What is Acupuncture and how does it work?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get as an acupuncturist. While acupuncture is a relatively new healing modality in the United States, it has been prevalent in Eastern Asia for thousands of years. Although there were acupuncturists present and practicing in the United States prior to this, acupuncture was spotlighted by a journalist following President Nixon’s visit to China in the 1970s. The journalist needed to have an emergency appendectomy while in China, and after the surgery, was in a significant amount of pain. He received acupuncture as a method of pain management, and was amazed by how much the treatment helped. He wrote an article about his experience, which served as a jumping off point to showcase the power of acupuncture to the broader American public.

Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) theory states that we have energy channels running through our bodies. The visual I’ve found most helpful in illustrating this is that of a river. Like rivers, the energy channels in our bodies have a Point A and a Point B, they are shallower and narrower in some parts and wider and deeper in others, and they usually connect to other bodies of water. Rivers are at their healthiest when the water running through them is clear and unpolluted, when they contain a robust amount of plants and animals, and when there is nothing blocking the flow of water. In regards to acupuncture channels, each channel is full of yin, yang (pronounced yawng), qi, blood and fluids. Yin/blood is deeper, heavier, cooling and anchoring. Yang/qi is more superficial, quicker, warmer, and more mobile. Both are necessary for a balanced and healthy system. When these channels are open, full of healthy yin, yang, qi and blood, and flowing well, a person is in their most optimal state of health. One feels happy, they are not in pain, they sleep well, they have healthy digestion and high energy levels, they manage stress well, and they do not get sick often.

But because life isn’t perfect and our circumstances are constantly changing, one or more of these aspects can fall off the rails.

Pretend you’re standing on the bank of a river and you look to the right. You see a huge tree has fallen over and is blocking the flow of the river. Some water is collecting against the trunk of the tree, and then the flow slows and narrows on the other side of the tree. Then, you look to the left and notice that a beaver family has built a dam. Not only is there another blockage, but the water around the dam is murky and no longer looks clear and healthy.

This is imagery is similar to how acupuncture channels become blocked, unhealthy, depleted, which causes unwanted symptoms to arise: your body is in pain, your sleep suffers, you get sick more often, stress reactions turn into depression, anxiety, and avoidance, your digestion becomes irregular, exhaustion sets in, and so much more. TEAM strongly believes that our physical bodies, minds and spirits are deeply connected, and when one aspect is affected and left untreated, the others will be impacted as well. TEAM not only addresses the symptoms of what you’re experiencing, but it also treats the root cause of the condition. 

Along each channel there are acupuncture points that have certain actions and indications (such as strengthening and moving qi/blood, opening the channel, alleviating symptoms A, B, and C). These points work to remove that giant tree blocking the river and help clarify the water around the beaver dam. These efforts restore that healthy, free-flowing energy of the channel/river. Your body vividly remembers what that balance/optimal state of health feels like and strives to get back to that state. 

Acupuncture is not magic. The needles themselves are not magic. Your acupuncturist is not magic (although it might seem like it sometimes 😉). Instead, it is the intelligence and resilience of our bodies that is truly incredible. Acupuncture simply reminds the body what that optimal state of health feels like. However, as intelligent and resilient as our bodies are, the body often needs several reminders of what that optimal state looks and feels like. As much as I would love to work myself out of a job in this way, acupuncture is not a one-and-done, quick fix treatment. Acupuncture is a cumulative process, so the more regularly you receive acupuncture, the better and longer-term results you will achieve.

QUESTION 2: What can acupuncture treat? 

Acupuncture is exceptional at treating a wide variety of conditions, but only a few are relatively well-known. The more widely known conditions acupuncture treats effectively are musculoskeletal pain (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, arthritis, low back, hip, knee, ankle pain), and fertility issues. Acupuncture also provides a supportive treatment for individuals undergoing chemotherapy.

While that’s an incredible list right there, acupuncture also treats: seasonal allergies, anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, digestive disorders (nausea/vomiting, gas/bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc), women’s hormonal health (regulating the cycle, fertility, pre- and post-natal care, menopause), male hormonal health (ED, fertility), Bell’s Palsy, stroke recovery, headaches/migraines, post-operative pain, jaw pain/TMJ, and fibromyalgia Acupuncture treatments also provide immune support (to both prevent the onset of colds/flus and encourage quicker recovery from said colds & flus). In other words, if you are experiencing a health problem of some kind, acupuncture treatments will likely be able to solve it, or at the very least reduce your discomfort!

QUESTION 3: What is an acupuncture session like?

Every acupuncturist is different in how they approach treatments, but here’s how I typically conduct mine! Once a patient books their appointment, I have them fill out a health history form that is “lovingly” referred to as the 10,000 Questions. It’s extensive and asks several questions that one would never think someone would ask or find important. However, because the body, mind and spirit connection is so strong, each question helps an acupuncturist deduce the root cause of a given problem, rather than purely chasing symptoms. Once the patient arrives, we talk about their chief complaint and any associated symptoms. I then take the patient’s pulse and maybe look at their tongue (weird, I know). Pulse taking and tongue diagnosis are diagnostic tools I use to confirm what the patient has already shared. There are twelve major channels in the body and there are twelve pulse positions, so it is a way for the acupuncturist to check in with each channel and feel for deficiencies, excesses and imbalances. Then, needles that are about as thin and flexible as a cat whisker are placed along affected channels, and then the patient gets to relax for up to twenty minutes. Sometimes, additional modalities are used, such as cupping, guasha, and moxibustion, but not in every treatment. Once the needles are removed, the patient is free to get up. 

I want to take a moment to discuss the acupuncture needles in more detail, since they seem to be the main source of hesitation for those who have not experienced acupuncture before. Like I mentioned, the needles are incredibly thin and flexible and shouldn’t cause you any sharp pain. Dull, heavy, and achy sensations are all normal; however, some people don’t feel any sensation whatsoever! Don’t let a fear of needles discourage you from giving acupuncture a try.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive article about acupuncture theory or how every acupuncturist operates. However, I hope this post at least gives you more detail about how acupuncture works, what it can treat, and what you can expect from a treatment. Please feel free to reach out to the acupuncturists at Movement Counseling + Wellness with questions any follow-up questions you may have or to schedule an appointment!