One of the most common concerns patients have before receiving acupuncture is about the safety of acupuncture needles. Before we get too far into the details, let’s just get the main point across: all acupuncture needles are sterile, single-use medical devices. After each use, the acupuncture needles are disposed in a medical waste container.

There, we said it. Needles are NEVER re-used, re-sterilized, re-packaged, or re-anything else. So if you are still interested in learning more, read on…

What Are Acupuncture Needles Made Of?

Way back in the time of ancient China, needles were made of stone and bone; however, in modern times acupuncture needles are made of surgical-grade stainless steel. Every needle is sterilized with Ethylene-Oxide Gas (ETO) in strict compliance with government regulations. Needles do vary in their manufacturing process resulting in varying quality, length, and thickness (gauge). The needles used in our clinic are produced in Japan and Korea.

How Big Are Acupuncture Needles?

Most acupuncture needles are from 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches in length… but you weren’t really asking how long they are, were you?

Acupuncture needles are solid, not hollow like hypodermic needles… and there is nothing special on them or inside them. The average thickness (gauge) of the acupuncture needles used in our clinic is 0.25 mm. In comparison, the average hypodermic needle for drawing blood is 0.82mm and for blood donation is 1.65mm. Some of the needles we use are even thinner at 0.16mm.

To give you a better idea of how thin they really are, we could put about 30 acupuncture needles into the hole of a hypodermic needle.

Is Acupuncture Dangerous?

In the hands of a well-trained practitioner, acupuncture is a safe and pleasant experience. The most common adverse side-effects are small bruises and light-headedness after treatment. In our clinic, we primarily practice a “distal-style” of acupuncture where we place needles in your arms and legs (far away from any vital organs) to treat conditions anywhere in your body. All of our acupuncturists have over 3,000 hours of formal training in Chinese medicine and years of experience. With the development of single-use sterilized needles, the majority of acupuncture complications went away.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The short answer is no… well, maybe a little. It really depends on where we put the needle and how scared you are. Most patients say that they barely felt the needle go in; however, everybody has a varying degree of sensitivity and fear of needles. We have treated a lot of very sensitive patients and are able to adjust the treatment to each individual’s needles.

One important thing to understand about acupuncture is that many Asian cultures adapted their techniques to best suit their local populations. Chinese style acupuncture tends to be more aggressive, and Japanese acupuncture is often very gentle and painless. We’ve trained extensively with both of them and provide the right treatment for each patient.

Still Not Convinced?

Search around the internet for relevant studies and you’ll find that the incidence of a significant acupuncture-related injury is less than one percent.  If you have more questions about the safety of acupuncture, send us a message on our contact page or come by for a visit to our clinic.