Is all Acupuncture the same?

No. Most acupuncture involves the use of needles. But practitioners may also use other techniques in addition to or in place of needle stimulation. For instance, they may use heat, electrical stimulation, or lasers to stimulate acupuncture points—either with or without needles. Acupuncture points can also be stimulated manually using a technique called acupressure. This involves applying finger pressure to points on the skin.

How many treatments are necessary?
The number of treatments required depends on the condition being treated. In a program for drug addiction, for example, participants received 30- to 40-minute treatments every day for two weeks, then three times a week for four more weeks, and two times a week during the final two weeks. In contrast, a group of patients awaiting knee surgery for osteoarthritis received monthly treatments for just under a year.

What do the needles look like?
Disposable stainless-steel acupuncture needles come in differing lengths and widths. The type of needles an acupuncturist uses depends on the part of the body where they will be placed.