What do you picture when you hear the word "acupuncture?" Is it an image of torturous needles jammed all over someone's body? Does these images scare you? That couldn't be further from the truth. Acupuncture also relieves pain rather than causing it. Read on to find out more about acupuncture and the ways in which it treats pain.

Make sure that you give time for acupuncture to work. The benefits you get from acupuncture may not take hold until after a few treatments. You might not see the complete range of benefits following the initial session. Thus, give it time for acupuncture to work on your body.

Prepare yourself to face dealing with needles. Acupuncture is a treatment which involves needles, period. Needles have to be used for this type of treatment to be effective. Understand this before you sign up for anything.

You should eat lightly in the time leading up to your appointment. You may feel very uncomfortable during your treatment if you eat heavy. But you should also never go with an empty stomach. You might feel nauseated and dizzy following treatment if your stomach is empty.

Don't think that you'll get results immediately. You may truly feel better after one appointment, but others will take a few weeks to find relief. Don't worry if your first appointment doesn't result in much of anything. Changes will occur. Be patient and give the sessions time to work.

Before you decide to make a stop at your local acupuncture practitioner, give your insurance company a call. There might be programs or treatments that have coverage, and others which may not be covered. Ask which insurers they bill to ensure you don't end up footing the lion's share of the bill.

Do not eat a large meal before you acupuncture appointment. Eat a small meal to avoid nausea and dizziness. Full meals aren't recommended. It's hard to remain comfortable lying on a bloated stomach.

You don't have to tip your acupuncturist. These are professionals who should not be tipped. They work in health care and tips are generally not given here.

If you're afraid of needles but want to try acupuncture, look into laser acupuncture instead. This uses lasers to pinpoint parts of the body rather than using needles. This does not hurt at all, and lots of people claim that it works really well in relieving their conditions.

It might appear to be a painful process, but this is entirely visual. The needles are far thinner than the hypodermics that are used by doctors. If you stood a few feet away from them you'd have trouble seeing them. At worst you may feel a little discomfort, but overall the treatment is a relaxing one.

Always verify that your acupuncture specialist has the appropriate licenses with your state's health department. This means that the individual completed a full program, not just some sort of weekend seminar. Health Departments only issue licenses to those who have had adequate training.

Let your acupuncturist know if you're taking any medicines. The therapist will be able to tailor your treatment to your specific needs, taking this information into account.

Make sure you relax and rest after and before your acupuncture treatments. Your acupuncture treatment will be more effective if you are relaxed, and your acupuncturist can do his job easier. Relaxation is an excellent enhancement for acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture does not cause pain, as seen in this article. As a matter of fact, acupuncture relieves your pain. Now you can wipe away all of the fears you had about acupuncture in your mind. Face your fears and make use of everything you learned here to relieve pain through the use of acupuncture.