Two of the most common concerns I have heard people have with acupuncture are

1. I don’t like needles. The idea of having all these pins sticking out of me makes me uncomfortable.

2. I have regular massage and don’t have time to book another long appointment.

Now, I would not trade my classic training in Chinese medicine or my years of traditional martial arts training for anything, but I do understand progress. Over the years, the study of what acupuncture actually does to the body has been studied from a modern context. Part of that research has led to alternative ways to achieve similar, if not better, results.

Micro-current stimulation involves using a small device to produce an electrical current to stimulate the selected point. This can provide the necessary stimulation to activate the point in 30-60 seconds instead of 20-30 minutes. I have also found this quite useful in acute pain conditions, as we can pin point painful areas and settle them down immediately.

Laser stimulation involves stimulating the selected points with a laser. Much like how a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity, a laser hitting our skin actually produces a small electical current. Many studies have also been done showing the effectiveness of lasers in stimulating bio-activity in the affected tissues. I find laser to be very useful in treating children in particular. Similar to micro-current stimulation, the treatments are quite time efficient.

All that being said, I do still use needles. Like choosing any treatment modality, it is completely dependant on the individual situation.