Common Myths About Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient remedy that has become incredibly popular today. Yet this common practice has become shrouded in myths and rumors. We’ll discuss some of the most often repeated myths about acupuncture. 

Acupuncture Hurts

This myth likely got started because many people are afraid of needles. The reality, though, is that acupuncture needles are roughly the size of a cat whisker. Some people describe the initial prick as a mosquito bite. Once the needles are in, many people feel a sense of heaviness or a slight electrical sensation accompanied by a very deep feeling of relaxation.

Acupuncture Is Nothing More Than Old Mysticism

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) recognize acupuncture as a legitimate, useful treatment for many conditions. Rigorous, peer-reviewed, scientific studies repeatedly show that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing responses.

Acupuncture Conflicts with Mainstream Medical Treatments

In reality, acupuncture is a complementary treatment. There are no drug interactions or contraindications, with only a handful of exceptions. If you have a bleeding disorder or are on blood thinners, you are at a slightly higher risk of bleeding from the needle pricks. Those with a pacemaker should not have acupuncture treatments that involve electrical stimulation. Certain acupuncture points should be avoided to prevent inducement of premature labor. Within these parameters, though, acupuncture is safe and useful.

Acupuncture Only Helps with Pain

While it is true that acupuncture can relieve many types of pain, it also has a number of other benefits. Acupuncture use is available for help with depression and anxiety. Furthermore, it assists a wide range of physical conditions including nausea, allergies, high blood pressure, infertility, and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Acupuncture Never Ends

Acupuncture has cumulative benefits, so most people need between three and ten treatments. For most conditions, though, that is sufficient. Some people with chronic conditions choose to switch to a maintenance schedule, such as one appointment per month, to maintain maximal benefits.

Despite a surge of popularity in recent years, many people are ill-informed about acupuncture. The Western World recognizes it as a legitimate, useful treatment after being in use for over 3,000 years. We always recommend checking with your medical doctor, especially if you have underlying medical conditions, but in most cases, acupuncture is a safe and helpful complementary treatment.

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