When needles are concerned, we regress back to the days when we were as young as our kids, crying at the mere mention of a prick. And if we had to get a shot…a lollipop was usually in order. Sadly, they don’t often give out sweets to adults at the doctor. But if we could just set aside our preconceived notions we could see that there are some serious health benefits of acupuncture. We just have to see past the needles.

The practice of acupuncture dates back as far as 3000 B.C. in China and focuses on the need for the balance of energy in the human body. This vital energy is commonly referred to a Qi (pronounced “chee”). Acupuncture needles, which don’t hurt like those shots we all hate, are deftly placed in specific spots to promote healing, both physical and emotional.

Still skeptical?

The needles are fine, thin, and sterile, and placed into various points on the body, known as meridians, to help release the imbalance of energy that is blocked. There are 12 main meridians one for each of the major organs. Your pain is caused by this blocked energy, referred to as stagnation.

And stagnation is so often what we feel when suffering with digestion disorders, depression, allergies, fibromyalgia, hypertension, stress, infertility, low back pain, menstrual pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a host of other health issues.

It’s worth a shot (or a tiny pin prick) don’t you think?

Like a visit to any physician’s office, a detailed medical history will be taken during your first visit to an acupuncturist. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that chronic imbalances of the yin and the yang (the hot and the cold) impact the color and shape of a person’s tongue. Your pulse will also be taken and calculated with your medical history so the acupuncturist can help pinpoint the source of your aliment and begin working with you in mapping out your treatment.

We’re particularly excited about the findings that acupuncture helps women who are experiencing infertility. This treatment, used in conjunction with Western medical fertility treatments, has been shown to help. It’s all about alleviating stress and helping blood to flow.

And I can speak firsthand about how acupuncture helped ease the chronic pelvic pain I had related to endometriosis and fibromyalgia.

This practice is more than just the needles. Acupressure and dietary suggestions work in tandem for a positive and long-lasting result.

Sure the tiny needles may sting just a little to some, but it doesn’t hurt for long. Plus, it’s working to relieve other pain. Also during treatment you may feel nasal congestion, a positive sign that it’s moving the blockage away from targeted organ, the center of your pain. In some treatments, the needles may be touched gently by the therapist to help facilitate the positive flow of Qi. It’s an unusual, zingy (but not unpleasant) sensation for many, but compared to childbirth, we think you can handle it.

Find an acupuncturist near you here.