What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?

If you’ve never had acupuncture, you might be wondering: Why would anyone willingly be stuck with needles?! But this ancient practice has remained popular throughout the centuries — and, in fact, it’s only continued to become more popular. So, there must be something to it, right?

We asked licensed acupuncturist Tim Sobo, LAc, to explain what acupuncture feels like, including your most pressing question: Does it hurt?

Is acupuncture painful?

“Occasionally, when a needle goes in, you may feel a little bit of a pinch or minor discomfort,” Sobo says. “But broadly speaking, no, acupuncture doesn’t hurt.”

A 2021 review showed that only about 3.75% of people who had acupuncture reported needle site pain. And one study on pediatric acupuncture called it a “relatively pain-free and well-liked” treatment, and in participants aged 8 to 21, acupuncture-related pain was found to be “low to none.”

If you’ve ever been stuck with a needle, like while receiving a flu shot, you may be wondering how all that could be possible. Because even if that experience didn’t hurt, per se, it probably didn’t feel great either.

The key, Sobo says, is the acupuncture needles themselves.

Acupuncture needles vs. regular needles

Acupuncture needles are called filiform needles. And they differ from regular hypodermic needles (the ones used for shots and blood draws) in a couple of important ways.

Hypodermic needles are hollow, with a hole through the middle to either deliver medication or draw blood. But acupuncture needles don’t need to do either of those things — so the needles are much, much thinner.

“Filiform needles are extremely fine, similar in thickness to a strand of human hair,” Sobo illustrates. “They’re so small that you could fit about four or five of them inside the hole of a standard hypodermic needle.”

Acupuncture needles also don’t go as deep as hypodermic needles do. For the most part, they’re inserted shallowly into the skin.

“As far as the discomfort of getting a shot or having your blood drawn, acupuncture feels nothing like that,” he reassures.

What does acupuncture feel like?

Oftentimes, acupuncture doesn’t feel like anything at all — and that’s exactly why the occasional twinge can be a surprise. Your mind may catalog that feeling as pain, even if it’s not actually that painful.

“Let’s say I put four or five needles in, and you don’t feel a thing,” Sobo illustrates. “Then, if I put one in that you do feel, it registers as a sudden pinch out of nowhere. But that usually goes away in a matter of seconds.”

If your acupuncturist puts in a needle that does pinch, hurt or feel otherwise uncomfortable, let them know. They can remove the needle and either reposition it or avoid that area of your body.

Why are certain areas more sensitive than others?

Some needles may feel more noticeable going in than others, like if they’re near:

• Muscles: Your acupuncturist may intentionally target certain muscles to help relieve pain. This can feel like a heaviness or a tingling feeling.
• Nerve endings: “Nerves send electrical signals through your body that help you feel sensations,” Sobo explains. “Areas like your fingers, toes and ears have more nerve endings than other parts of your body and may be more sensitive to acupuncture.”
• Inflammation: Areas that are inflamed, like from an injury, may be more sensitive to acupuncture. Tell your acupuncturist ahead of time if you’re dealing with any existing pain.
• Blood vessel or capillary: “This can lead to a drop of blood or two,” Sobo notes. “But it’s typically not even enough to require a bandage.”

As mentioned, twinges or pinches should fade within a few seconds. But again, always let your acupuncturist know if a needle feels uncomfortable so they can remove or adjust it.

Final thoughts

If you’re interested in acupuncture, but feeling nervous about the process, talk to your acupuncturist ahead of time.

“I talk to a lot of people who are afraid of needles,” Sobo says. “Once someone walks you through the process and you see how small these needles actually are, most people very quickly go, ‘Oh, that’s what I was so nervous about? I can do that.’ And they end up coming back to do it again and again.”