Do acupuncture needles hurt?

While we call them acupuncture "needles," they are very different from the hypodermic needles used in medicine to draw blood or to give injections. Acupuncture needles are more accurately described as filaments. They are very fine (not much thicker than a human hair) and flexible. They rarely draw blood, and patients rarely feel them being inserted. Once the needle is inserted just beneath the surface of the skin, your acupuncturist will gently stimulate the needle by lifting or rotating it until a response is elicited. This response is detected when the acupuncturist feels a slight tug, twitch, or gripping on the needle. Patients often report feeling a sensation, which they liken to a muscle twitch or a dull ache. Sometimes they report feeling warmth or tingling. Once patients overcome any initial anxiety over trying something new, they usually find acupuncture to be deeply relaxing.