The most important question:

Answer:  

No.    

The patient generally feels only a slight sensation as the very fine, sterile, single-use needle is put in place.  Once inserted, at very specific points, determined by the practitioner trained in the more than 2,000 years of development and refinement, the needles are left in place for perhaps 20 or 30 minutes.  The effect is very relaxing. 

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is part of an holistic approach to health, concerned as much with maintenance of well-being as management of disease.  In a relatively recent development, western doctors and physiotherapists use a form of acupuncture within their existing scope of practice on the basis of a western medical diagnosis. 

According to traditional Chinese philosophy, good health is dependent on the body's motivating energy - known as qi - (chee) moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin. The flow of qi can be disturbed by many physical, mental or emotional factors: anxiety, stress, anger, fear or grief, poor nutrition, weather conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help to restore its natural balance. 

Acupuncture is sometimes considered to be merely a means of pain relief.  However it can be beneficial in the treatment of a wide range of illnesses, focussing as it does on promoting overall well-being.  Presented with a complex set of symptoms, indicating bodily disharmony, the skilled acupuncturist can formulate a personal treatment plan for each individual patient.