Often, would-be patients decide against acupuncture because they believe it will hurt. It’s understandable, really. Aren’t there needles involved? Won’t acupuncture feel a little bit like getting a shot? How comfortable could it be, really, to become a human pincushion for an hour? Fortunately, acupuncture feels nothing like that. In fact, there’s rarely any pain at all.

The biggest difference between an acupuncture needle and a hypothermic needle is size: up to a dozen acupuncture needles could fit inside the bore of a hypothermic needle, they’re that small! Acupuncture needles typically range in size from .25 to .30 millimeters, and their tips are specially engineered to maximize patient comfort during the session. In Japanese acupuncture, which features needles that are even thinner, it’s common for insertion to be completely free of any sensation at all. All needles are single-use, disposable, stainless steel needles.

While insertion is usually painless, the acupuncture session as a whole will be associated with a very specific type of sensation. When the acupuncture sites begin to “work,” creating a current that draws out pain or toxins along one of the body’s meridians, the patient will experience a combination of sensations, including tingling, heaviness, achiness, and warmth. This is called de qi, and it’s a sign that the needles have been placed correctly, and that the treatment is working.

So, if you’ve been squeamish about getting acupuncture because of concerns about pain, relax. Give yourself the opportunity to receive quality, potentially life-changing treatment, knowing that the sensations you feel won’t be uncomfortable.