Here are 15 factoids you may not know about acupunture:

  1. Originally, acupuncture needles were not made of stainless steel but of stone, bamboo, and bone.
  2. Studies have shown that acupuncture points have significantly more electrical conductivity than areas of skin without acupuncture points.
  3. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, “needle” and pungere, “to prick.”
  4. The U.S. FDA classified acupuncture needles as medical instrument in 1996.
  5. Acupuncture needles in the US are single use, sterilized and pre-packaged.
  6. The history of Acupuncture is over 5,000 years old.
  7. When performed by a properly trained and licensed practitioner, acupuncture is safe and effective, free from negative side effects.
  8. Even though a needle is being inserted into the skin, acupuncture is virtually painless.
  9. Acupuncture needles are a lot smaller than standard hypodermic needles. The needles do not draw blood and are not hollow.
  10. Acupuncturists feel your pulse and look at your tongue to gain a better understanding of what is going on inside the body.
  11. Acupuncture is highly individualized – 50 people with the common cold could all have different acupuncture points in their treatments.
  12. Licensed acupuncturists attend an in-depth four year program and obtain over 1,000+ clinical internship hours.
  13. Acupuncture is just one form of therapy used within the medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine, which also consists of other modalities such as herbal medicine, nutrition, physical therapy, and special exercises (such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong).
  14. Traditional Chinese Medicine is acupuncture, herbology, nutrition, massage, and meditation as practiced in China.
  15. Most East Asian countries practice some form of acupuncture, herbology, nutrition, massage, and meditation which differs from Traditional Chinese Medicine.