“How far do acupuncture needles go in?”

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“How far do acupuncture needles go in?”

I am a 28 year old female. I want to know how far do acupuncture needles go in?

26 Answers

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**Mrs. Qiong Wang** Acupuncturist Pittsburgh, PA · Accepted Answer

Mrs. Qiong Wang Acupuncturist Pittsburgh, PA

1/4 of an inch

**Catherine Rahm Coudray** Acupuncturist Laramie, Wy · Accepted Answer

Catherine Rahm Coudray Acupuncturist Laramie, Wy

Very superficial

**Phavikone Sundara** Acupuncturist Kent, WA · Accepted Answer

Phavikone Sundara Acupuncturist Kent, WA

It depends on what problems you are treating and the area(s). A good provider can vary the depth from shallow to deep in treating a patient with dexterity and good judgment while keeping them comfortable.

**Tara Foster** Acupuncturist Arcata, CA · Accepted Answer

Tara Foster Acupuncturist Arcata, CA

It depends, anywhere from .2mm - 3 inches

**Dr. Yali Li** Acupuncturist Huntington Station, NY · Accepted Answer

Dr. Yali Li Acupuncturist Huntington Station, NY

It depends the location of the point, in hand and foot the needles insert into about 1 or 2 mm. In buttock , the needles can insert about 6 to 8 cm. Acupuncture is almost 100% percent safe in experienced hand.

**Lejla Fazlicic** Acupuncturist · Accepted Answer

Lejla Fazlicic Acupuncturist

Depends on the anatomical location of the points (from a couple of millimeters to a couple of centimeters).
Dr. Leila

**Huan-wen Jonathan Fang** Acupuncturist Acton, MA · Accepted Answer

Huan-wen Jonathan Fang Acupuncturist Acton, MA

Hi,

Every point has a different depth that the needle can go in safely. Some areas with big fresh, some may not. In general, it goes in from 1mm to 1 inch.

**Mrs. Rebecca Kitzerow** Acupuncturist La Center, WA · Accepted Answer

Mrs. Rebecca Kitzerow Acupuncturist La Center, WA

It depends on the body area, but generally not far at all. Sometimes they are just tapped in, I would say 1/4" or less of depth on average in my sessions.

**Daniele Saint-Cyr** Acupuncturist Sarasota, Fl · Accepted Answer

Daniele Saint-Cyr Acupuncturist Sarasota, Fl

It depends on what we treat and where on the body and the style your AP will utilize. Some very shallow some deeper for,example on the glut/ butt. But regardless of the depth you should nit see a difference in the sensation.

**Qiling Xiong** Acupuncturist CORONA, California · Accepted Answer

Qiling Xiong Acupuncturist CORONA, California

Different parts have different depths of insertion. Generally from 0.1 inch to 3 inches.

**Dr. Scott S. Lee** Acupuncturist Wheeling, IL · Accepted Answer

Dr. Scott S. Lee Acupuncturist Wheeling, IL

Hello,

The depths of the needle insertion differs by location of body parts and conditions. Please consult your local acupuncturist.
Happy and healthy New year!!!

Scott Sang In Lee

**Mr. BaoKu Liu** Acupuncturist New York, NY · Accepted Answer

Mr. BaoKu Liu Acupuncturist New York, NY

That depends on where needle goes in. In general, bet 1/4”-6”.

**Natalie Ramsey** Acupuncturist Montclair, New Jersey · Accepted Answer

Natalie Ramsey Acupuncturist Montclair, New Jersey

The depth can be anywhere from a millimeter to a few inches, depending on the body part and intention of the needles.

Warmly,

Natalie Ramsey, MS LAc

**Mr. Danny Tu Khounh** Acupuncturist Newtown, PA · Accepted Answer

Mr. Danny Tu Khounh Acupuncturist Newtown, PA

Hello there,

The needle depth is dependent to the location of the selected area based on your the size of your body and the location of the issues. But not to worry, needles should not touch the organs nor the bones when administering by a licensed professional.

Best regards,

Dr. Khounh

**Mr. Michael andrew Chow** Acupuncturist Lake Elsinore, CA · Accepted Answer

The depth of the needles depends on the condition being treated. Generally speaking, for deficient cases the patient usually prefers the needle and treatments may go deeper, roughly about one inch deep. Other cases may prefer shallower treatments like where organs are easily located on the body. But always check with your primary to see if you are suitable for
alternative therapy by a licensed practitioner of acupuncture!

Live Happy,

Michael

**Andrew Kingoff** Acupuncturist Wilmington, North Carolina · Accepted Answer

Andrew Kingoff Acupuncturist Wilmington, North Carolina

Needles typically go 1/10 to 1/2 an inch. This varies based on where the points are and the size of the patient.

**Ms. Ellen D. Leonard** Acupuncturist Grants Pass, OR · Accepted Answer

Ms. Ellen D. Leonard Acupuncturist Grants Pass, OR

Chinese needles go in about 1/2 inch or more, Japanese needles about an eighth of an inch.

**Kaiti Wang** Acupuncturist Baytown, TX · Accepted Answer

Kaiti Wang Acupuncturist Baytown, TX

0.1 in to 1.5 in

**Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo** Acupuncturist · Accepted Answer

Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo Acupuncturist

Well, it varies from point to point. The deepest point is in the hip... those needles can go in 1-2 inches. The shallowest points are the finger tips/nail beds of the fingers that probably penetrate .1 inch.

**Bonnie B. McLean** Acupuncturist Gulf Breeze, FL · Accepted Answer

Bonnie B. McLean Acupuncturist Gulf Breeze, FL

It depends on the practitioner and what kind of acupuncture they are practicing. I use a gentle approach with Japanese needles that are half an inch, one inch, and an inch and a half. I don't push any of them in all the way.

**Daisy Dong** Acupuncturist Denver, CO · Accepted Answer

Daisy Dong Acupuncturist Denver, CO

The thinner area, the shallow the insertion will be.

**Dr. Takeshi Komatsu** Acupuncturist Los Angeles, CA · Accepted Answer

Dr. Takeshi Komatsu Acupuncturist Los Angeles, CA

I've used only made in Japan acupuncture needles for 30 years. In my treatment, I use only 5 to 7 needles, which is the world's thinnest needle, a time and it goes less than 1cm.

**Andrea Cillo** Acupuncturist Bay Shore, New York · Accepted Answer

Andrea Cillo Acupuncturist Bay Shore, New York

That depends on the technique and where the point is located. In some Japanese styles, the needles actually won't penetrate the skin and activate the point by only coming into contact with the surface of the skin. In other techniques such as trigger point dry needling, the needle may go as deep as 2.5-3 inches.

**Ramona Whan** Acupuncturist Wildomar, CA · Accepted Answer

Ramona Whan Acupuncturist Wildomar, CA

Some needle are very superficial just entering the skin layer some needles can go to an inch. In special areas like the buttocks needles can go 3 inches. - It is not painful.

**Jeff Rippey** Acupuncturist Saint Joseph, MO · Accepted Answer

Depth of needle insertion is highly variable and can depend on:

1. The style of acupuncture your provider practices. Some systems are more likely to use shallow insertion, some are more likely to use deeper insertion.

2. The location being needled. Some acupuncture locations will support deeper insertion and some will not.

3. The condition being treated. Some conditions are best treated with deeper needle insertion at location that allows for such. Some conditions are better addressed with shallow insertion regardless of location.

4. Patient's body build. Some patients have a thicker build which requires longer needles and deeper insertion. Some patients have a thinner build which requires shorter needles and shallower insertion.

**Ms. Qin Milla Mu** Acupuncturist San Jose, CA · Accepted Answer

Ms. Qin Milla Mu Acupuncturist San Jose, CA

It depends on what kind of conditions you have. Some conditions may don't allow needles go so far inside, some conditions may need needles to deep insert, but it must be in a safe zoom.

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