Acupuncture for people who are nervous about needles

Japanese-style acupuncture uses very fine needles, placed shallow and often taken out within a minute or two. Before any needle, your acupuncturist spends several minutes feeling your pulse, your belly and the tender spots along your arms and legs. Most of the work is touch.

In the room

• We talk first, fully dressed, with the lights low.
• Your acupuncturist feels your pulse and presses along your arms, legs and belly.
• You see the tool or needle before it is used, and hear what it is for.
• A rounded tool presses or taps the skin. If a needle is used, it goes in a few millimeters and often comes out right away.
• You rest for a few minutes, then we talk about how it went.

What you may notice

A light tap, a brief pinch, a dull ache, warmth, heaviness, or nothing at all. It differs from person to person and from point to point. Say so at any moment and we change what we are doing or stop.

If a needle is more than you want today, a visit with tools only is a real visit. Nothing is inserted unless you say yes.