During your treatment, you'll likely be invited to lie down comfortably on a treatment couch. After a consultation and discussion of the proposed treatment, your acupuncturist will insert needles into ares of the body referred to as acupuncture points. You may assume that acupuncture will be painful as most of our experience of needles relate to having injections or blood tests, however the needles used for acupuncture are much finer and are solid rather than hollow. When the needle reaches the desired point the sensation is often described as a tingling or a dull ache. Needles are either inserted for a few seconds or left in place for 20 minutes or longer depending on the desired effect. During treatment patients commonly experience a heaviness of the limbs or a pleasant feeling of deep relaxation. Patients frequently comment that apart from relief from a particular condition they also enjoy increased energy levels, better digestion and sleep as well as an improved sense of well being.