Acupuncture
How acupuncture is performed
An initial acupuncture session usuallylasts 20-40 minutes and involves an assessment of your general health, medical history and a physical examination, followed by insertion of the acupuncture needles.
Courses of treatment often involve up to 10 separate sessions, but this can vary.
Insertion of the needles
The needles are inserted into specific places on the body, which practitioners call acupuncture points.
During the session, you'll usually be asked to sit or lie down. You may also be asked to remove some clothes so the practitioner can access certain parts of your body.
The needles used are fine and are usually a few centimetres long. They should be single-use, pre-sterilised needles that are disposed of immediately after use.
Acupuncture practitioners choose specific points to place the needles based on your condition. Up to12 points may be used during a typical session, sometimes more depending on the number of symptoms you have.
The needles may be inserted just under the skin, or deeper so they reach muscle tissue. Once the needles are in place, they may be left in position for a length of time lasting from a few minutes up to around 30 minutes.
You may feel a tingling or a dull ache when the needles are inserted butshouldn't experience any significant pain. If you do, let your practitioner know straight away.
In some cases, your practitioner may rotate the needles or stimulate them with a mild electric current (known as electroacupuncture).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. Fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes.
How acupuncture works
Western medical acupunctureis the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles of the body. This resultsin the body produc
Uses of acupuncture
Acupuncture practitioners sometimes called acupuncturists use acupuncture to treat a wide range of health conditions. However, the use of acupuncture isn't always based on rigorous scientific evidence
Acupuncture on the NHS
Acupuncture is sometimes available on the NHS, most often from GPs or physiotherapists, although access is limited. Most acupuncture patients pay for private treatment. The cost of acupuncture varies
How acupuncture is performed
An initial acupuncture session usuallylasts 20-40 minutes and involves an assessment of your general health, medical history and a physical examination, followed by insertion of the acupuncture needle
Acupuncture safety and regulation
There's no statutory regulation of acupuncture in England, butmany non-medical acupuncture practitioners are required to register with their local authority. If you choose to have acupuncture, make su
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products