Misconception Of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine involving the insertion of super fine needles superficially into the skin to correct the energy flow in the body. Many people believe this practice is painful, while others see it as a waste of time, or useless. Testimonials prove this to be false, but those who have not tried the practice are skeptical. The long history of acupuncture has lead to many misconceptions about the process. There are many benefits to acupuncture that can be shown through an understanding of its process.

The most common misconception of acupuncture is that the process hurts (Calabro, 2013); having a needle penetrate the skin generally causes pain, discomfort, and is a great anxiety trigger for many people. “Fear of pain from acupuncture needles is one of the most common reasons people forgo acupuncture” (Calabro, 2013). However, acupuncture is relatively painless. There is no tube running through the needle like the ones used in other medical care, making them much thinner and easier to insert into the skin (Tolentio, 2014). Acupuncture needles are only about a quarter of a millimeter thick (Tolentio, 2008) which is why there are so easily inserted into the skin. “Acupuncture is an extremely dynamic form of healing” (Alberta,

Although many people may be hesitant to use acupuncture as a first-line treatment for [various] issues, this can often provide come, if not complete, relief when other traditional forms of medicine are found to be lacking. People can continue taking their medication and follow all the medical advice of their primary care physician while also receiving acupuncture care at the same time. Many. . . find that the combination of the two treatment types together brings about the largest amount of relief. It generally requires 3-4 years of study in order to obtain the knowledge and practical skills that are required to become a practicing acupuncturist” (18 pros,