Acupuncture for People Afraid of Needles
I’m an acupuncturist and I am afraid of needles.
It’s a funny statement to make, after all, acupuncture is a large part of what I do as a Chinese medicine practitioner. Those of you with a fear of needles might want to call BS on this statement. How could anyone with a true fear of needles ever consider a career based around them! Let me explain myself…
I have a lot of memories of going to the doctor as a kid. Many of the visits were for typical childhood health concerns and the others were for vaccinations. I remember liking my pediatrician, Dr. Rosenberg. He was a sweet man, with a calming voice and big glasses. There wasn’t a scary doctor behind the needle creating this fear and the nurses were kind too. I cant truly say where the fear came from in these moments. I think it was the anticipation of pain. Being poked with those giant needles doesn’t exactly feel good and not even a lollipop and Batman band aid could make it all worth while. My fear got so bad that I would begin crying and panicking on the drive to the doctor and then totally losing it once in the office. Long story short, any future situations regarding needles, like blood draws and even dental work sent my nervous system into stress mode.
I wouldn’t say acupuncture was the first on my list when I was considering therapies for my own health problems as an adult.
Oh how things change! To be honest, I had never heard of acupuncture until I moved to Portland for college. I began seeing an MD for my health concerns and he recommended herbs and acupuncture. I had a good relationship with this doctor and had met a lot of friends with positive acupuncture experiences, so I was open to it despite still feeling apprehensive. Plus, I needed relief. Every test I had done kept showing that I was “normal” and “healthy” and yet I still felt unwell. I couldn’t take the debilitating migraines, menstrual irregularities and unexplained abdominal pain any longer.
I was nervous about my first acupuncture visit, but the acupuncturist was great about explaining everything she was doing. After being gently coached through the first needle insertion, I was pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like I had felt with vaccines or blood draws. The sensation wasn’t sharp or intense, but rather light, dull and slightly achy. That being said, it was still disconcerting to look down and see a needle in my leg. So I just kept my eyes closed. My acupuncturist said something Ill never forget. She said “if you’re worried that something bad is going to happen, don’t. My malpractice rates are low because its so rare that anything bad happens with these needles.” To translate: acupuncture is a low risk and minimally invasive procedure when performed by a licensed acupuncturist. Once I received the rest of the needles and felt their effects, I was hooked.
It seems somewhat cliche to say that you just have to experience acupuncture to really “get it” but its true.
The experience and results is why so many needle phobic people take the plunge. Its an experience that often times leads to improved health outcomes when combined with the other modalities within Chinese medicine, like herbs, bodywork, movement and nutrition. Who doesn’t want to feel relaxed and treat their health problems?
Still not convinced? Let me walk you through an acupuncture treatment for people afraid of needles.
Any new patient is going to get an explanation for how acupuncture works and what to expect. If I know someone is particularly nervous about the needles, I will also adjust how I facilitate the treatment. First thing I do in any treatment is go over your medical intake. This is just friendly conversation! I get to know you and your concerns and learn about who you are as a human being. We wont be jumping right in to the needles.
Next you’ll get on the treatment table. The table isn’t like your doctors office with cold paper. Its soft, cozy and warmed by a table warmer and heat lamp. The ambiance is set for deep relaxation. Then I take your Chinese diagnostic pulse and view your tongue. These two steps are how we gather information about the body in Chinese medicine. It helps us determine what points to use and what herbs to recommend. Still, no needles yet. Next Ill do a little gentle bodywork, perhaps on the neck or the shoulders and legs. This is all dependent on what you need that day. Then finally, the needles.
Size comparison of a hypodermic needle and two different sizes of acupuncture needles.
Acupuncture needles are not hollow like a hypodermic needle used in blood draws and vaccinations. They are solid, pliable and the size I use for needle sensitive patients are about equivalent to a strand of hair. Let me put it this way, even babies and young children receive acupuncture without upset. One reason for this is because there are different needling styles within Chinese medicine. Some practitioners use thicker needles and use an intense trigger point style of needling designed to induce a strong sensation. Others use very thin needles like I described above. Not only am I trained in both styles of needling, but I have specialized training in non-insertive acupuncture. This Japanese style of acupuncture uses metal tools called Teishin that are gently placed on top of the acupuncture points. Thats right, no needles needed to access Qi. People with Fibromyalgia, Lyme and PTSD often love this style of acupuncture because of how gentle it is and for the absence of needles.
It was important for me to receive training in all styles of needling so I could meet patients where they are at in the moment. Im not going to use an intense technique on a sensitive person. Thats just mean, and not necessary for healing in my opinion. Sometimes I will do an entire treatment with zero needles for a highly sensitive patient! Often times when patients become more familiar with the process, they get curious about the needles. In this case, I can slowly integrate gentle acupuncture techniques into the treatment.
Acupuncturist are experts in needling technique.
Its one of the reasons why we are licensed with the Oregon Medical Board— the same regulating body that oversees MDs. We are deeply trained in anatomy and because of this, we can work with you on the new sensations that come with acupuncture. Contrary to popular belief, acupuncture needles are not going into nerves. They are also not going directly into your arteries or veins. Acupuncture points are strategically placed, almost always within the belly of a muscle, allowing them to feel much more comfortable than a needle in your vein.
Once I truly realized how small acupuncture needles were and felt the relaxing sensations myself, I knew these were different needles I was dealing with. Would I say I don’t have a needle fear anymore? Not at all. I am still afraid of hypodermic needles in typical medical settings. I also still consider myself needle sensitive and only see Chinese medicine practitioners who practice gentle acupuncture. For all the folks out there who want to try acupuncture and Chinese medicine but consider themselves sensitive, this medicine is still for you! Know that there are practitioners like myself who understand your concerns and want to gently introduce you to this miraculous medicine that has helped people for thousands of years.
If you have any questions about gentle acupuncture feel free to send me an email, Id love to talk!
To facing our fears,
Kecia Fox, MSOM, LAc