Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
This is the most common question Dr. Odette gets asked about acupuncture. The short answer is no. But this can depend on how anxious you are about needles. Of course, if you are afraid of needles, the tendency is to tense up, and the mere thought of needles can illicit more pain than if you were not afraid. To help you feel more at ease, Dr. Odette guides you through simple breathing exercises and talks you through the process in your first and future visits.
Most people who are afraid of needles think the needles are the same size as needles used for drawing blood. This is not the case at all! Acupuncture needles are much shorter, thinner, and they are solid (which means there is no hole in the centre for taking blood!), making them much less painful and much less scary.
Dr. Odette frequently checks in during your acupuncture session to ensure you feel at ease during the treatment, and if for some reason you do not want to continue with it, she is happy to remove the needles at any time, at your request. Remember, this is your treatment, and if it is causing you more stress than benefiting you, she will be happy to adjust your treatment plan to meet your needs.
What does acupuncture feel like?
You will likely feel the quick prick of the thin, sterile needle being inserted into the skin. After that, the sensations can vary from person to person, from point to point, and from one visit to the next. Some people feel nothing at all. Other people may feel a variety of sensations described as numbness, heaviness, warmth, aching, sore, radiation and throbbing. Believe it or not, these are all normal sensations of acupuncture that practitioners explain as achieving “de Qi”. Experiencing any of these sensations is a good thing, and Dr. Odette will encourage you to breathe through it to help you feel more comfortable with it.
Dr. Odette will explain that if you experience sharpness that does not go away, this is a sensation that is not something she wants you to feel. Sharpness that does not go away can mean the needle is too close to a blood vessel or nerve, and even though she is well trained to know where these are located and how to avoid them, unfortunately because they are microscopic (too small to be seen with the naked eye), it is possible to come too close to them. Let Dr. Odette know and she will adjust the needle direction or may remove it completely.
What should I wear for acupuncture?
The recommended clothing options to wear or bring with you to change into, are:
- Shorts or comfortable pants – loose or stretchy – that can be rolled up to above the knees to access the legs
- T-shirt or loose long-sleeved shirt that can be rolled up to access the elbows
- Tank top if we need to access the neck and shoulder area
- You may be required to remove your socks to access the feet and ankle
If you forget to pack clothes, not to worry – Dr. Odette has clinic gowns available for your convenience.
Is there anything else I need to know before my first acupuncture visit?
Dr. Odette recommends you have a meal 1.5 to 2 hours before or a small snack less than 1.5 hours before your acupuncture visit. This is to ensure you are not hungry and your blood sugar is not too low when the acupuncture is done. If you are, there is a chance you could feel dizzy and lightheaded during the treatment or once you sit up from the treatment.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help bring the body back into balance physically and mentally. Acupuncture can help decrease inflammation, which makes it useful in reducing pain. In Chinese medicine, Qi (pronounced “Chee”) is the energy that flows through our bodies. When Qi moves freely through the body, the body is in balance and healthy. When Qi is blocked, it results in imbalances in different body parts and can lead to various physical and mental-emotional symptoms.
What kinds of health conditions can acupuncture support?
Dr. Odette has used acupuncture to help support people with many conditions including fertility concerns, perimenopausal hot flashes, bloating, constipation and diarrhea, and migraines, low back pain, and neck pain. Find out more about additional conditions that can be supported with acupuncture by clicking here.
How many acupuncture visits will I need?
This changes based on your unique needs and health concerns. If acupuncture is part of your treatment plan, you may notice improvement (e.g. feeling more relaxed, reduction in pain) after the first few treatments. However, you may need to continue treatments for 1-2 months or longer to see results that can be better maintained over time. Again, this number varies depending on your individual health needs & concerns. In a typical course of acupuncture, treatments are often recommended one time per week.
Remember that your individualized treatment plan is not restricted to only acupuncture. In addition to your acupuncture visits, Dr. Odette can integrate the most effective naturopathic therapies for your individual health needs and adjusts them as your individual needs change.
Are there any side effects to acupuncture?
Bruising and slight bleeding when the needles are removed are possible with acupuncture. Even though Dr. Odette is well trained to know where the blood vessels are located and how to avoid them, unfortunately, because the tiny capillaries are microscopic (too small to be seen with the naked eye), it is possible to come too close to them, which can result in bleeding and bruising.
Dr. Odette takes all precautions to minimize any chances of bleeding and bruising, and if either of these does occur, she attends to these safely and quickly. She will inform you if she believes there is a chance of bruising after removal of a needle and advise you on how to care for the bruise at home if necessary.
Is there anyone who should not have acupuncture?
People who have blood clotting disorders or are on blood thinners, which increase the risk of bleeding, may not be good candidates for acupuncture.
People who are immunosuppressed (for example transplant recipients, diabetics) need to be assessed thoroughly to ensure acupuncture is safe for them, and if so, Dr. Odette takes necessary precautions to minimize the risk of infection.
If your blood pressure is too high or too low, Dr. Odette may recommend postponing acupuncture treatments and focusing on other naturopathic treatments until your blood pressure is normalized.
Women who are pregnant or suspect they are pregnant must inform Dr. Odette, as there are points that she needs to avoid during different stages of pregnancy. She will ask you if you are attempting to conceive or could be pregnant, and if you are at all uncertain, she will take the necessary precautions and avoid all of the necessary points.
That being said, acupuncture can be safely done in pregnancy for various health concerns. Dr. Odette can help determine if it will be a helpful part of your perinatal care while ensuring to avoid the points that should not be needled during your stage of pregnancy. Acupuncture can also be helpful for supporting fertility whether trying to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive techniques.
If you have more questions for Dr. Odette check out the FAQ on naturopathic medicine or lab testing.