Is it painful?

Sensations experienced by clients vary with acupuncture. Most patients feel only minimal discomfort, as the needles are passed through the skin. Some feel no pain at all. Upon insertion, the needles are gently manipulated to elicit an energy response or Qi. The Qi response may feel like a mild electrical stimulation, heavy numbness, or dull ache. Clients do not generally describe pain as one of the sensations.

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and are made from stainless steel which means that they are very different from the hypodermic needles used by medical doctors for immunization. Acupuncture needles are so fine that several could fit inside the hollow of a regular needle used for injections.