Fear of needles affects up to 10 percent of people and I’m one of them. So, I too was surprised when I agreed to an acupuncture session (in the name of research, of course).
"The needles are thinner than the width of a human hair," I thought. "I can do this."
A few weeks before, I heard a friend raving about its many benefits. I always thought acupuncture was just for pain relief. Boy, was I wrong.
Fascinated, I took a deep dive in search of answers. And my Novant Health team members* were happy to help.
‘It helps balance things out’
The tradition of acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles at very specific points, stems from the idea that energy flows within the human body and can be channeled to create balance and promote health.
Acupuncture is just one component of traditional Chinese medicine, which holds that the body can help heal itself, and responds better to conventional health care, when it's balanced.

“We all know that past traumas or sources of anxiety, things of that nature, reside in our mind. But Chinese medicine practitioners say those emotions live in every cell of the body and also impact physical health,” said oncologist Dr. Rachel Baldwin at Novant Health Cancer Institute - Kimel Park (Integrative Medicine) in Winston-Salem.
“When those hidden or pushed-away emotions are released in a safe fashion, all of the cells in the body function that much better," she said. "Whether that release happens through acupuncture, therapy, journaling or bodywork, people are better off for it."
Acupuncture can help with myriad of health issues, Baldwin said, such as:
- Headaches.
- Sinus problems.
- Digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and vomiting.
- Hormonal issues including menstrual cramps, infertility and troubling symptoms of menopause.
- Joint problems including neck and lower back pain.
- Neurologic issues such as neuropathy and stroke rehabilitation.
- As an adjunct to treatment for cancer.
- Dental pain, and pain following surgery.
- Autoimmune or inflammatory disorders.
Good things take time
Experiencing the many benefits of acupuncture can take time, doctors say. "Most people will need at least four to six sessions to experience a noticeable difference," Baldwin said.
A bit nervous, I started with one at Novant Health Sherry Strong Integrative Medicine Oncology Clinic, located in the Agnes B. and Edward I. Weisiger Cancer Institute in Charlotte. I was greeted by a cheerful woman at the front desk. Her smile eased any nervousness I had, as did the soothing voice of Amanda Nolff.
Nolff, a licensed acupuncturist, completed upwards of 2,000 training hours before working at Novant Health. She explained how acupuncture can be used to channel energy within the body to help people feel more balanced both physically and emotionally.
"Placement and depth of needles is manipulated on a per-person basis to promote optimal health and healing," Nolff explained.

The room reminded me of seeing a massage therapist. The lighting was soft and soothing music played quietly in the background.
Nolff and I talked through my health history and interest in acupuncture. Then, I laid down on a heated table with crisp, white sheets.
“Well, no turning back now,” a tiny voice whispered in my head.
She began by taking the pulse on both of my wrists – something Nolff did just by holding them – and made a few remarks about my body temperature and allergies.
Find an acupuncture location that's convenient for you.
"Not bad," I thought
Yin and yang
“At its most basic, each person possesses a unique balance of the energies of yin and yang. We walk a wiggly path between the two,” Nolff said. “When they are of equal size, pressed together in balance, we are most likely to be healthy. When one gets a little too big, or a little too small, that's often when we see problems expressed through different organ systems in the body.”
Writing this now, I can confidently say acupuncture is something I would continue. There is nothing to fear, I learned that day. My other takeaways include:

- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- Eat something light prior to an appointment.
- Avoid caffeine, if possible, as well as any rigorous exercise directly following the session.
- Acupuncture can make you sleepy. An important meeting or event following a treatment may not be the best idea.
While acupuncture is not usually covered by insurance, many people use their flexible spending dollars to help pay for it. Group or community acupuncture, where multiple people are in the same room receiving treatment, is effective and more affordable.
"Sometimes, those group sessions cut the price of a treatment by more than half," Baldwin said.
Opening 'the gates’
Since acupuncture is known to ease pain and nausea, physicians often refer their cancer patients who are undergoing treatment.
There is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine that acupuncture can “open the gates” for people receiving chemotherapy, Baldwin said, meaning the medicine can get to places that it ordinarily might not be able to.
“The theory is that acupuncture allows chemotherapy to travel where it can do the most good. While at the same time, helping to reduce the incidence of side effects," she said.
Research is ongoing, but Baldwin said people seem to experience fewer and less severe side effects from cancer treatment when they have acupuncture compared to those who do not. Many of those patients are referred for acupuncture, but the treatment is available to other Novant Health patients, as well.
*Author Gina DiPietro works on the Public Relations team at Novant Health.