How does Acupuncture Work?
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All living creatures are powered by electrical energy. No chemical or mechanical function or activity can be initiated or maintained without bioelectrical energy.
Acupuncture is the medical modality that treats by directly manipulating bioelectrical energy.
The acupuncturist accomplishes this by inserting very fine needles just under the skin at specific sites determined by diagnostic techniques unique to this medicine.
The skin is the body’s outer defense. Place a needle in the skin and the body responds. This “healing” response is the immune system at work. The cascade of events that comprise the immune response always begins with an electrical event. By identifying deficiencies and excesses in the body’s electrical system, and then by placing needles at the appropriate acu-points on the body, the acupuncturist rebalances the bio-electrical circulation. This in turn facilitates and enhances the body’s ability to heal itself.
Acupuncture is the medical modality that treats by directly manipulating bioelectrical energy.
The acupuncturist accomplishes this by inserting very fine needles just under the skin at specific sites determined by diagnostic techniques unique to this medicine.
The skin is the body’s outer defense. Place a needle in the skin and the body responds. This “healing” response is the immune system at work. The cascade of events that comprise the immune response always begins with an electrical event. By identifying deficiencies and excesses in the body’s electrical system, and then by placing needles at the appropriate acu-points on the body, the acupuncturist rebalances the bio-electrical circulation. This in turn facilitates and enhances the body’s ability to heal itself.
Is it safe? Is it painful?

Acupuncture is profoundly safe. At our clinic needle insertion is mostly superficial, rarely penetrating beyond ¼” below the surface. The needles we use are very, very fine, not much thicker than a human hair. Needles are used during one treatment visit and then disposed of.
Needle sensation can vary from a brief pinprick to almost no sensation at all. When treating a patient, we sometimes get asked: “Have you put the needles in yet?” We have, and very often the patient has felt nothing at all. Is there ever any discomfort? Yes, for example, when a needle grazes a capillary or a superficial nerve. But the effect is brief.
Keep in mind that acupuncture needles are NOT hypodermic needles. They are NOT hollow, so they don’t tear the flesh. They do NOT inject anything, so there’s no fluid pressure to cause pain, nor any medication with possible side effects and drug interactions. To further minimize patient discomfort, we use the very thinnest Japanese needles currently available.
Since a major treatment goal is to relieve the internal stresses that accumulate with illness and trauma, we do all we can to assure that the patient has as relaxing an experience as possible.
Needle sensation can vary from a brief pinprick to almost no sensation at all. When treating a patient, we sometimes get asked: “Have you put the needles in yet?” We have, and very often the patient has felt nothing at all. Is there ever any discomfort? Yes, for example, when a needle grazes a capillary or a superficial nerve. But the effect is brief.
Keep in mind that acupuncture needles are NOT hypodermic needles. They are NOT hollow, so they don’t tear the flesh. They do NOT inject anything, so there’s no fluid pressure to cause pain, nor any medication with possible side effects and drug interactions. To further minimize patient discomfort, we use the very thinnest Japanese needles currently available.
Since a major treatment goal is to relieve the internal stresses that accumulate with illness and trauma, we do all we can to assure that the patient has as relaxing an experience as possible.