How many needles will my acupuncturist use?

Dr. Daniel Hsu, DAOM

Alternative & Complementary Medicine

An acupuncturist will have to examine you and determine the number of needles to use. Different practitioners may choose to use different numbers of needles to treat the same ailment. There is also no minimum or maximum number of needles used. Personally, I have used as few as one needle to as many as dozens at a time.

Continue Learning about Acupuncture

You may not like the idea of being needled, but acupuncture has been a go-to therapy for over 5,000 years. And this Chinese healing art, which uses ha...

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Many insurance companies cover acupuncture treatments. Call your insurance company to see if they co...

Dr. Michael Roizen, MD

Acupuncture causes measurable increases in vagus nerve activity, so it is at least theoretically pos...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Acupuncture

Imagine relief from back pain without medication. Imagine childbirth without the intense pain. These are just a few of the many benefits acupuncture may provide. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago. It involves a technique using very thin needles, which are strategically inserted in certain parts of your body. The theory is founded on balancing the flow of energy (qi or chi) through pathways (meridians) in your body. Practitioners believe that by restoring the energy flow, a re-balancing and restoration of harmony will be restored to your body. Western medicine is becoming more and more open to this ancient practice, and over the past several decades, acupuncture has been looked upon as a favorable alternative to treating many conditions.

Learn More