The level of discomfort from acupuncture is minimal. It ranges from no pain at all to the type of pain you might feel from a mosquito. Very occasionally it will feel worse than that. Once the needles are in the patient feels a pleasant state of euphoria and often fall asleep.
Here is a vid of a patient getting some acupuncture:
Chuck Sullivan, L.Ac. - Acupuncture and Healing Arts 901-763-0909
