Wilmington Acupuncture Studio

What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?

Many first-time patients are concerned that acupuncture needles will feel like hypodermic injections at the doctor’s office. They won't. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, flexible needles that often are hardly felt when inserted. Gentle stimulation of the needles may produce a unique sensation that Asian medicine practitioners call de qi. Patients often describe de qi as a "heavy, achy pressure", or a "spreading, traveling feeling." You may also feel an "electrical" sensation moving down the meridian pathways. One thing most patients agree on is that acupuncture puts them into a deep, relaxed state and they leave the treatment feeling restored both mentally and physically.

Acupuncture treatment creates deep relaxation
in both mind and body.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative, so a series of treatments are usually necessary for patients to reach their health goals. For acute conditions 1-2 treatments may be all that is needed. However, chronic conditions may take longer to respond, depending on the type, severity, and duration of the condition. Preventative treatments and treatments for general well-being may also be scheduled on an as-needed basis.