Acupuncture, as a practice, originated thousands of years ago from China, but has recently become popular in the Western world. It is a technique that makes use of hair-thin acupuncture needles which are then inserted in the skin. Acupuncture therapy is done by stimulating specific interconnected points, also known as meridians, throughout the body. The limbs and organs along these meridians respond to the stimulation of acupuncture needles.

The simple quesiton of why acupuncture works or how it works, has not yet been completely understood by Western medicine. But, recent studies show that acupuncture really has several health benefits. Acupuncture therapy is a welcome addition to a weight loss program; a remedy for sinus headaches, asthma and eczema; and, as aid for people who want to quit smoking.

How Acupuncture Needles Work

Acupuncture therapy is a series of weekly treatments, where the patient is given a physical exam, followed by the patient’s assessment of his condition then finally, the insertion of acupuncture needles. Each acupuncture therapy session lasts for about thirty minutes. Before the insertion of the acupuncture needles, the person is required to lie on the surface by facing up or down or sideways. An experienced acupuncturist uses single-use sterile-packed acupuncture needles. The procedure may sound painful, considering the needles, but it really is not. The closest to pain you might encounter will be the sharp but mild pain when the acupuncture needles are inserted.

Acupuncture Needles: A Variety of Choices

Acupuncture needles come in variety. They are available in: tube copper, without tube copper, with tube extra long copper, golden coated, spiral handle, right hand, Nickel-coated, steel handle, flat handle or aluminium handle.

There are a lot of acupuncturists who would prefer to use the stainless steel acupuncture needles since they are very thin and quite flexible to use. These types of acupuncture needles allow greater maneuvering on the part of the acupuncturist since these single-use, disposable acupuncture needles are only inserted peripherally. There are also others who use ultra fine, soft, solid silver acupuncture needles. These types of acupuncture needles are only touched to the meridians and are not really inserted into the skin.

The entry of acupuncture therapy into Western medicine has made it a welcome addition to its world of neverending discovery. Using these acupuncture needles for treatment or cure has come as a necessarily unpleasant situation.