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If the prospect of being stuck like a pin cushion comes to mind when you think of acupuncture, you're not alone.
Fear of needles is one of the biggest obstacles to mainstream acceptance of the traditional Chinese method, during which thin needles are inserted through the patient's skin at strategic points in the body.
"It's based on restoring and balancing the body naturally to help it function optimally," says Dr. Lisa Perdue, who practices acupuncture in Boca Raton. "It uses the body's energy dynamic to help it repair and recover."
She treats various health concerns – from arthritis and allergies to back pain and menstrual cramps – and has advanced training in fertility, pain management, PTSD, sports injuries and women's health.
"It can treat conditions from A to Z," says Dr. Perdue. "Anything you can think of, acupuncture can help assist. It's not magic, though. The patient has to be doing their part."
Acupuncture can also be used for preventative health care or relaxation.
"It's a misconception that you need to have something wrong with you to benefit from acupuncture," she says. "You don't have to be sick, injured or have a health concern."
An acupuncture needle is solid, thin and flexible – like a cat's whisker, Dr. Perdue explains. Each needle is used once and in one location only.
"It doesn't push or pull anything in the body," she says. "The needle acts as a conduit to the body's own path for healing, chi. It's the vital force of what we can change."
The number of needles used varies based on your health condition and how many conditions you're treating simultaneously.
Whether acupuncture hurts or not depends on your threshold for pain, she says. For those who can't tolerate pain, Dr. Perdue offers non-needle techniques.
The instant effects of the treatment vary, as some patients experience a burst of energy while others feel relaxed, like they're floating on a raft. Likewise, some individuals feel immediate relief from their ailments, and some require several sessions to experience effects.