Is Acupuncture Safe? 5 Myths Debunked by a Boise Acupuncturist
Acupuncture has become one of the most sought-after natural, non-toxic, medical options in Boise for: pain, fertility, menopause, menstrual problems, anxiety, trauma recovery, sports injury, hormone imbalance, and chronic illness. However, many people worry: “Is acupuncture safe?” As a Boise Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, who has treated thousands of patients over the past two decades, I hear this question weekly. We also hear “Is acupuncture painful? I hate needles”.
The short answer to this question is yes, it is safe and no, it is not painful. When acupuncture is performed by a board-certified, licensed practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe, minimally invasive, and backed by decades of clinical research. Yet, misconceptions about acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine are pervasive and keep many patients from experiencing the life-changing benefits this medicine offers.
Below are five common myths — and the truth you deserve to know.
Myth #1: Acupuncture Hurts
Many people imagine thick, stiff, large and long, hypodermic needles used for administering vaccines or blood draws and wince and even feel nauseous just thinking about it. In reality, most acupuncture needles are hair-thin and highly flexible. On average, we can insert ten of our needles into the hole of a hypodermic needle! Additionally we very, gently insert acupuncture needles at specific points to activate your nervous system, illicit the TCM properties and stimulate healing. But quality matters. If your acupuncturist cuts corners or doesn’t want to spend money, it may result in a more painful insertion due to poor needle quality. The cheaper needles have microscopic barbs all along the shaft of the needle that can tear your skin going in and coming out. This causes more pain. We don’t buy those needles at Eagle Acupuncture. Our needles are the most expensive and the highest quality with clean, smooth shafts that make insertion pain-free for most patients.
Also, training matters. Practice matters. Most acupuncturists spend years in training. Our acupuncturists, at Eagle Acupuncture, also have mastered dry needling. Most dry needlers, who use acupuncture needles in dry needling, literally only have one or at most, two weekends of training. Now that will most likely really hurt! Technique is critical. Time and years of practice really do make the difference between painful needling and painless needling. There are also different styles of needling. Our preference is Japanese needle technique and needles. This is by far the most sophisticated and gentle needling practice of any kind. We can needle babies, and they won’t cry and babies cry at everything.
In our practice at Eagle Acupuncture, most patients describe the sensation as:
A very subtle, dull ache
Tickling
Gentle pressure
Tingling
Warmth
Some people truly don’t feel them at all. Some giggle with laughter and these are people who were originally very scared to try acupuncture at all. After the first minute, the feel-good hormones get dumped into your entire body. Acupuncture releases endorphins, increases circulation, and calms pain signals — naturally. Patients are absolutely shocked at how incredibly relaxed they feel after acupuncture and this calm often is felt for days after each treatment. They often look a little sleepy and must wake themselves up before driving home. They report that acupuncture is even more relaxing than getting a massage and who doesn’t love massage?
Myth #2: Acupuncture Isn’t Scientifically Backed or Proven
An enormous, growing body of research supports acupuncture for:
Fertility support and hormone regulation for all women’s hormone problems
IVF support and higher success rates
Lower Miscarriage Rates
Lower Ectopic Pregnancies
Chronic pain
Headaches and migraines
Neuropathy
Anxiety and depression
Digestive disorders
Stroke Recovery
Trauma Recovery
Sports Injury
Auto-immune Imbalance
Insomnia
Menopause Symptoms
Literally hundreds of other symptoms, syndromes and diseases
Major hospitals, integrative clinics, and even the U.S. military medical hospitals and out-patient services include acupuncture because the evidence is compelling. PubMed now includes thousands upon thousands of peer-reviewed studies confirming its safety and efficacy. The World Health Organization suggests acupuncture for many conditions. The National Institutes of Health publish studies about the effects of acupuncture. There is no denying acupuncture works.
Myth #3: Acupuncture Is Only for Pain — Not True!
Pain relief with acupuncture is famous, but acupuncture also addresses root-cause dysfunction, and heals chronic medical conditions including:
Irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation disorders
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms
Immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation
Digestive imbalance and gut dysbiosis
Stress-induced hormone disruption
Allergies
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
Fatigue
Chronic Infection
Long Covid
Asthma
IBS
Constipation
Male Factor Infertility
Auto-immune Flares
When acupuncture is combined with Chinese herbal medicine and functional medicine lab testing, there are very few chronic illnesses we can’t treat through a holistic lens.
Myth #4: It’s Dangerous or Can Cause Injury
This misconception often stems from unlicensed providers in other countries or DIY “acupressure needles” online and inadequately trained dry needling.
In Idaho, licensed acupuncturists L.Ac. or even more advanced training is D.Ac. and the most advanced training is DAcCHM:
Complete 4 years of graduate medical education (year-round so = to 5 years)
Pass national board exams
Pass state board exams (our providers passed both and California’s exams were at a 50% failure rate)
Maintain clinical sterilization “clean needle technique” training
Keep Up with Continuing Education (CEU) every year
At Eagle Acupuncture, we use sterile, single-use needles and follow OSHA-level clean needle protocols. Injury risk is extremely low — significantly lower than many common medical procedures and even medications. You can expect tiny bruises on occasion.
Myth #5: Once You Start, You Must Continue Forever
Not true. Acupuncture is progressive, not addictive. As your symptoms improve, treatments naturally become less frequent. We are always taking new patients. We never have a closed practice. Why? Because we heal our patients. Therefore, we always take new patients. We are notorious for weaning our patients extraordinarily fast. As soon as you feel better, we elongate how frequently you come in for treatment. In the beginning we often suggest acupuncture several times a week. Some people can only come once a week and that is often okay too. The concept is similar to training your body for a competition. In the beginning you need more workout sessions and an extremely strict diet. As your body gets in shape, you need fewer sessions and you can be more flexible with your diet to maintain your physique. We never suggest acupuncture weekly…for the rest of your life.
Typical patients follow:
Acute conditions: 1–3 sessions per week for 2–6 weeks
Chronic conditions: 1-3 sessions for 8–12 weeks with tapering
Fertility optimization: 1-3 weekly sessions through conception and the first trimester
Anti-wrinkle with vegan stem cells microneedling monthly
Growing Hair for Hair Loss monthly
Once health and balance are restored, or your pain is resolved, or your baby is born (and the postpartum time has passed), occasional maintenance treatments help you stay well — but they aren’t required. People who suffer from tremendously difficult conditions like: Lyme, ME/CFS myalgic encephalomyelitis, M.S., CRPS, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis or other severe pain syndromes can benefit from monthly maintenance sessions but again, it is not mandatory, only optional.
So… Is Acupuncture Safe?
When acupuncture is performed by a licensed Boise acupuncturist with proper credentials it is:
extremely safe
non-pharmaceutical, non-addictive
gentle and effective
suitable for all ages, including during pregnancy
Side-effects are usually mild and temporary, such as light bruising on one or two little spots.
How to Choose a Safe, Qualified Acupuncturist
It is easy. You want to look for:
LAc, DAc or DAcCHM
Idaho state licensure
Sterile, single-use needle protocols
Experience treating your condition
Training in TCM herbal medicine (a major advantage!)
Avoid needling from anyone not licensed in acupuncture — including chiropractors or physical therapists who only completed weekend seminars. We refer out to chiropractors and physical therapists for their expertise in bone manipulation, stretches and exercises and we think they are amazing, really! But, weekend needling classes simply are not enough hours to be properly trained to keep the public safe. There is just too much at risk: lungs collapse, organs can be punctured, tendons and nerves damaged. From known, documented injury-induced cases, we feel it is either dangerous or at best, pretty ineffective. We have gotten a lot of feedback from people they those treatments usually fail, or are pretty painful. Simply think of your surgeon and their expertise. Would you want to go to someone who learned how to cut you open in a weekend or two, or would you rather go to a board certified, licensed surgeon who mastered their techniques in proper clinical settings with years of training? I would never think in a million years to adjust someone’s neck with a chiropractic adjustment after a weekend or two in training. That takes years to learn how to do that appropriately. We value other professions and want to keep people safe. Education, training and time really matter. When trained properly, acupuncture is one of the safest forms of medicine known to humankind.
Why Boise Patients Trust Our Clinic
As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, we integrate:
Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostics
Functional medicine lab testing
Targeted nutritional strategies
Customized herbal prescriptions
Lifestyle Modifications
We specialize in treating complex fertility, hormone imbalances, menstrual complications, sports injury and chronic pain conditions — even when everything else has failed.
The Bottom Line
Acupuncture is one of the safest, most effective, natural, medical systems available when performed by a licensed acupuncturist.
If you are ready to:
reduce pain
balance hormones
improve fertility
calm inflammation
boost mood and sleep
resolve that lifelong health problem
heal that sports injury for good
…acupuncture may be your answer.
Ready to Experience Safe, Expert-Led Acupuncture in Boise?
Book a consultation to learn how we can help you heal at the root of your problem.
Visit: www.eagleacupuncture.com. Be sure to call for your first visit and then you can book online any time! (208) 938-1277
Your body was designed to heal — sometimes it just needs the right encouragement and support.