ACUPUNCTURE / ACUPRESSURE

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• In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified acupuncture needles as medical instruments, assuring their safety and effectiveness.
• Acupuncture needles are one-time use only and are sterile. They are safe and do not carry any risk of infection. Practitioners swab treatment sites with alcohol or anotner disinfectant before inserting needles and use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient.
• Magnets that are used in electromagnetic acupuncture (which is a non-needle technique) have a mild electrical current which passes through the magnet and stimulate the acupoints. They may produce a light tapping feeling or a litile buzzy sensation on your skin. This technique is used in areas that may be too sensitive to the patient for acupuncture needles and for joint pain and injuries.
• Earliest healers used pointed rocks, bones, and bamboo sticks to perform acupressure and bleeding techniques. The progresslon continued from bone to bamboo to ceramic, bronze and iron and then to steel. Gold needles were found in a tomb around 2000 B.C. in the Hebei province in China.
• During your acupuncture treatment, not only may you more relaxed and calmer, but you may experience a slight tingling sensation or pressure where the needle is located, That's a good sign, it means the treatment is working.

When you think of needles, what comes to mind? Probably not the most pleasant thought. It may even make you cringe. That is understandable. Most of us have had an experience with hypodemic needles at least once in our lives. Generally, hypodermic neeoles cause painful sensation when they pierce your skin. The reason for this is because they are fairly thick and hollow as they are designed to inject fluids or draw blood.

Acupuncture needles are approximately the size of a cat's whisker.

On the other hand, acupuncture needles are about ten times smaller in size than an average hypodermic needle - approximately the size of a cat's whisker and they are very flexible. Acupuncture needles don't hurt in the way that nypodermic needles do. Some say that it feels like a mosquito bite. At worst, you might feel a slight pricking sensatton. The needles stay in about 15 to 50 minutes, depending upon the type of treatment you are receiving. Afier the treatment many people tend to feel extremely relaxed and calmer.

Talk to your acupuncture about your fears!

Initally, a lot of people are scared to try acupuncture because they are afraid of needles. You not alone. Your practitioner is likely to have had this conversation with many patients before you. It is important that you communicate with your acupuncturist because he/she will listen to you concems and work with you in order to help you to feel as comfortable as possible. Opening up a discussion about your fears is likely to help minimize the anticipated pain that you think an acupuncture needle could cause.

There are alternatives.

For those who are needle-phobic, some practitioners may offer other non-insertive forms of acupuncture that can replace the needles during a treatment. Here is a list of some treatment options:

• Magnets
• Microcurrent electrical stimulation
• Acupressure
• Tui Na
• Cupping _{(see image 1)}
• Gua Sha _{(see image 2)}
• Moxibustion _{(see image 3)}

Rest assured, acupuncture and Traiditional Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years and many people have tried it with great success. Even if you have a fear of needles and are apprehensive about your first treatment, we encourage you to give acupuncture a try. It has helped many people over the years achieve health and wellness with minimal side effects. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said "There is nothing to fear but fear itself!" This safe, natural and drug-free way of whole body healing is worth a try!