Yes, you, might experience minor bleeding during and immediately after acupuncture.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

However, in some cases it might take up to 30 minutes before bleeding starts so please do not worry if you don’t bleed straight away. A small amount of blood after acupuncture is nothing serious and it will stop by itself without any treatment being necessary.

If the bleeding doesn’t stop within an hour then contact your acupuncturist.

Why does it happen?

The Chinese believe that blood represents the spirit within the body, so bleeding is an indication that your Acupuncture points are really effective and therefore useful for removing toxic substances from your body.

Bleeding occurs because acupuncture works by stimulating our bodies to expel toxins. Blood contains many different types of cells, some of which act as “reservoirs” for waste products. During the treatment you will often release or drain these reservoirs so they can be removed via urination, perspiration and defecation. When the reservoir releases its contents, you might see a drop or two of blood coming out of your needle puncture holes on your skin surface . That’s normal and something you don’t need to worry about.

Do not stop or delay your treatment because of bleeding. If you notice that the blood is trickling down your leg, then take a tissue/towel and place it under the needle puncture site for 5 minutes until it stops.

What can I do if this happens?

Some people like to wear trousers or tights with long sleeves during their treatment so they don’t stain their bedding if they bleed; others prefer to wear white clothes which are easily bleached without harming the fabric. Some people find that placing towels, waterproof mattress protectors etc will protect their linens from stains .

So now you know! Do not be put off though as it is perfectly normal to experience bleeding during and after acupuncture.