Acupuncture Safety, and How We Look After You

Most people arrive with the same two quiet questions. Is this going to hurt, and is it safe.

The short answers are that acupuncture is very safe in trained hands, and that most people find it far gentler than they expected. Here is what actually happens.

The needles

Acupuncture needles are hair-fine. They are nothing like the needles used for injections or blood tests, which are hollow and a great deal thicker.

Every needle is sterile and single-use. It comes out of a sealed pack in front of you and goes into a sharps bin the moment we finish. Nothing is ever reused.

Your skin is cleaned before each needle goes in.

What it feels like

Most people describe the insertion as somewhere between feeling nothing at all, a mosquito bite, and a small pinch that passes in a second.

Once a needle is in place you may feel a dull ache, heaviness, warmth, or a mild spreading sensation. That is normal and usually settles into something quite comfortable. Plenty of people fall asleep.

If anything feels unbearable, tell me straight away and I will adjust or remove the needle. You are never expected to put up with it.

What can happen

Minor things are fairly common and settle on their own.

• A small bruise at a needle site, fading over a few days

• A tiny drop of blood as a needle comes out

• Mild soreness in the area for a day or so

• Feeling briefly light-headed or tired, most often at a first session

Serious problems are rare when acupuncture is carried out by a trained, registered practitioner. We spend years studying anatomy for exactly this reason, so that every needle goes in at the right place, at the right angle, to the right depth.

After your treatment

You may feel relaxed, pleasantly heavy, sleepy, or noticeably lighter. Some people feel energised instead. All of these are normal.

Have some water afterwards, and take the rest of the day gently rather than heading straight into something strenuous. You can drive, work, and carry on as usual.

If anything feels unusual once you are home, please get in touch. We would always rather hear from you.

You can check with us at any point!

Before, during, or after. Why that point, why that sensation, how long the needles stay in, what we are hoping to change today.

Nothing about this treatment needs to be mysterious, and nothing in it needs to be endured in silence.

Please eat something before you come

This one matters more than people expect.

Arriving very hungry or on an empty stomach makes you much more likely to feel light-headed, clammy, or faint during treatment. It is the most common reason someone feels unwell on the table, and it is easily avoided.

A normal meal beforehand is ideal. If that is not possible, something small an hour or so before your appointment is enough. Please do not fast before a session, and try not to come straight in after a very large meal either. Somewhere in between is perfect.

Please tell me if any of these apply

• You are pregnant, or think you might be

• You take blood thinners, or you bruise or bleed easily

• You have felt faint during medical procedures before, or needles make you uneasy

• You have a pacemaker or another implanted device

• You have diabetes, reduced sensation in your skin, or a skin condition in the area

• You are unwell today, running a fever, or unusually tired

None of these necessarily mean we cannot treat you. They change how we treat you, which is why we would rather know.

Disclaimer

All content within this Knowledge Hub is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with your General Practitioner or registered health-care professional. Traditional Chinese medicine therapies may support wellbeing; outcomes vary for each individual. Please seek appropriate professional health advice for your personal health conditions. If you have any ongoing health concerns, please consult your GP.