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THE
EXPERIENCE OF NEEDLES
Acupuncture
needles range from 1/4 inch to several inches in length and a few
thousandths to several thousandths of an inch in diameter. One inch and 1.5
inch are the most commonly used lengths of needle. The others are reserved
for more specialized use. The vast majority of needles used in the US are
stainless steel but copper, gold and silver are still in use. Gold is
thought by some to tonify and silver to disperse Qi.
When the needle
is inserted the patient may feel nothing or a sensation akin to a mosquito
bite, or perhaps a fly bite. Any pain should subside within a few seconds
after insertion. Sensation after needles insertion varies widely.
You may feel
nothing. You may feel a heaviness either around the needle or your whole
body. It may seem like there is electricity at the needle or coursing
through the channel. Yet another sensation is the feel of water moving
through a hose. All of these sensations are held to be the experience of Qi.
If the sensation is burning or sharp and/or continuous the needle should be
adjusted. According to the Nei Jing the practitioner feels “a fish taking a
hook”.
The experience
while the needles are in (usually 20 - 40 minutes) depends upon the nature
of the imbalance of the flow of energy. Sometimes the patient relaxes
profoundly, sometimes he/she feels energized. Many times patients will go to
sleep. Other times the patient enters a meditative state. The kinds of
experience can vary widely during the course of treatment.
ACUPUNCTURE |
Risks of Acupuncture |
