Despite Acupuncture being so popular and least harmful, there are many misconceptions about it. To summarize, I have given following facts, one must know about Acupuncture.

• Acupressure and Acupuncture are based on the same principles with the difference that Acupressure is used for prevention of diseases and treats only miner & superficial diseases. Acupuncture treats and even cures deep seated system diseases.
• Acupressure is a home remedy system that can be given by any non medico, while Acupuncture is given by only doctors
• Acupuncture is not symptomatic relief. It is holistic in its diagnosis, treatment and effects. So whatever the effects are experienced, those all are not symptomatic, rather curative.
• Acupuncture does not relieve pain . Since pain is the byproduct of disease, so relief in pain is due to control or cure of disease.
• Acupuncture does not give relief in one sitting. Onset of its beneficial effects may take different time in different persons.
• There is no effect of food or drinks on Acupuncture needling. You can go for Acupuncture treatment just after meals or can take meal just after Acupuncture.
• Depth of penetration of acupuncture needle varies with the Acupuncture point and the patients’ built. Certain points are superficial so needling is not so deep as compared to certain other points. If patient is obese, depth has to be increased.
• Acupuncture can be given at any time round the clock as per convenience.
• Acupuncture point may not be close to diseased part. Instead, needling may be quite far from diseased part e.g. for headache needling can be done on foot.
• Opposite side may be needled. Acupuncture point selected for needling may be opposite to the involved site e.g. in right sided facial paralysis, needling can be done on left side.
• Metal of needle will not influence the effects. Effects will be the same if needle is made up of stainless steel or gold.
• Size of needles will not influence the results. What matters is only penetration of needle to correct depth. So, for needling one inch deep, we may use 1.5 inch long needle as well as 4 inch long needle.
• Correct time of retaining needles is usually 20-40 minutes. About 70% of needling effect comes in first 20 minutes. Next 20 minutes gives only 20 % effect.
• Acupuncture effects are not temporary. Acupuncture effects depend upon the disease. Many diseases need booster courses for the homeostasis to be maintained. Usually this is needed in age related degenerative diseases like osteo arthrosis.
• Booster courses are given once in 1-3 yrs. depending upon case to case.
• Only one course may be enough in many diseases. Patient may not need any booster course e.g. facial paralysis, frozen shoulder etc.
• Acupuncture can not treat all diseases. Like any other system, this also has its limitations.
• Usually Acupuncture can not avoid surgery if it is mandatory.
• Gap during treatment period does not cause any bad effect. It only decreases and delays the response of Acupuncture but never causes any bad effects.
• Response may not come in smooth way. Acupuncture usually responds in jig zag pattern but net response will be certainly positive. At one occasion patient may feel 50% relief and the next day may feel pain, back to 20% but at the end, the net effect will certainly be much better.
• Increase in pain after acupuncture sitting never shows that acupuncture does not suit. Rather such patients respond to acupuncture better than others. In such cases only soft needling is needed with no stimulation.
• Acupuncture is not safe if given by non medicos. Since many needles are pierced inside human body, one should select only that practitioner who is basically a qualified doctor. Also, such doctor should be trained in Acupuncture from Internationally recognized teaching centre.
• Electrical Stimulation is not dangerous at all. Electric current used is very mild and the purpose is to just stimulate the acupuncture points.
• Only a few points are stimulated. Many points are not stimulated by electrostimulator. Only one or two pairs are stimulated at one time. Usually we do not use more than 3 pairs for electric stimulation.
• 10% patients may not respond without any reason. Even if the disease in question must respond to Acupuncture, few patients just do not respond at all. Neither the physician nor the patient can be held responsible for this failure.