First, it’s worth noting that everyone responds to acupuncture differently. For me, certain needles, or filaments, caused a dull ache, but beyond that I didn’t really feel them at all—partially because they are so thin. There were occasionally sensitive spots, like my knees and hips, but I’ve since been told that there was a purpose to those sensations. (More on that, later.) This experience jibes with what Toni Haugen, L.Ac, a licensed acupuncturist who works out of Buffalo, New York, has seen with many of her patients. “When the filament is inserted, there can be a slight pinch, but oftentimes my patients are unaware that the needling has begun,” she explains. “When adjusting the filament, I explain to the patients they may feel a mild, dull, and achy sensation that will immediately begin to fade,” Haugen says. “It’s a feeling that exists on the interior of the body and feels more like the body responding to stimulus and not like something has been inserted into the skin.” Once the filaments are in, you’ll sit or lie down with them inserted for the next 10 to 30 minutes. Common sensations to have during this time include: “Others will feel very heavy, as if there’s a weighted blanket on them, indicating that perhaps they were ungrounded, frenetic, or anxious before the session,” she adds. “Some feel buzzing or tingling all over—the movement of chi within.” After the filaments are removed, many people report feeling a bit dreamy—myself included. It doesn’t feel like much at all to have the needles quickly pulled out at the end, and once you’re done, you’ll begin feeling the actual effects of the treatment (though not always immediately). If you feel any of the following sensations, here’s some more insight into what each one could mean: “Acupuncture has both a shelf life and a cumulative effect,” Nuur notes. “At first, the benefits may last just a few days (shelf life); however, the longer you come in for, the longer the benefits last (cumulative effect).” If you’re new to acupuncture, Nuur and Haugen say it’s ideal to visit your practitioner weekly at first, and then scale back to monthly or even seasonal sessions. “Think of it as a practice akin to yoga, or meditation,” Haugen adds, “in that it can help with something specific, but if you continue to participate, you’ll feel better and better.” In the two months that I’ve been going, I can say without question I’ve noticed major improvements in my posture, my neck and shoulder pain has improved, and I’m much more aware of the way I hold my body. I’ll never forget waking up the day after my first appointment, and feeling like my shoulder was sitting properly for the first time in years. I also felt inexplicably relaxed the following couple of days.
