10th
Acupunture risks
The key to any successful therapy – whether alternative or conventional – is the accuracy of diagnosis. Once you have had the condition correctly diagnosed, the selection of treatment can then be based on the balance between the benefits and risks of the treatment, and of course the benefits should always be greater than the risks.
I cannot stress enough that acupuncture needles, when properly inserted into the acupuncture points , don’t hurt! So throw out all those images of nasty needles causing great pain every time you have to visit the acupuncture specialist.
Acupuncture is an extremely safe way of encouraging the body in promoting natural healing and improving bodily functions. When done correctly, acupuncture does not cause any serious side effects. Most patients feel a short tingling sensation like a pinprick. Other patients say it is more like a dull ache.
However, as with any other medical treatment, there are risks and problems associated with acupuncture have been recorded by researchers, so let us look at what could happen due to the application of acupuncture.
- One of the most common complaints from patients is of the sensation of tightness, soreness, warmth or tingling when a needle is inserted. However, this is rarely painful and is just the sensation of ‘chi’ arriving at the point of insertion.
- Occasionally patients have reported needle insertions causing minor bleeding and bruising. In some cases, acupuncture also brings on fatigue or fainting.
- Blood pressure can be lowered temporarily and this can cause the patient to faint. This, however, is very rare.
- Some people are even allergic to metals. The metal of the needle can cause them to develop an allergic reaction and such patients can develop a rash.
- More seriously, using improperly sterilized needles can transmit blood related infections between users.
- When needles are not properly inserted, it can lead to tearing of the vital organs such as lungs in the rarest of cases.
In the case of electrical acupuncture, you may run the risk of nerve damage. This can be cause by a faulty electro-stimulator or if the voltage is too high or applied for too long.
- In the case of moxibustion, burning the mugwort herb can cause up to second degree burns on the skin if it is held on the skin or near the skin for too long.
- In the case of acupressure, the wrong application and amount of pressure can cause soreness of the muscles and it may also cause bruising. Pressure applied on any superficial nerves can cause nerve inflammation, especially on the funny bone.
The key to avoiding any of these acupuncture risks is to find and use a properly qualified acupuncturist. Do so and your experience with a fully trained and experienced acupuncturist should be a fulfilling experience and not a dangerous one.
Acupuncture is very safe when practiced by a genuine professional. The risks described above and even spinal cord injury can occur if you are visiting the ‘wrong’ acupuncturist and a person who is not properly trained can cause permanent damage.
The most important thing to note is the dangers of sharing needles. New needles must be used for each treatment, without fail. You must insist on new needles every time you visit an acupuncturist because HIV and AIDS can be very real dangers if the needles used are not brand new.
Acupuncture is enjoying new found attention and with that has come increased attention to its risks and how to prevent them. The key to protecting yourself from the risks of any treatment is making yourself aware about all of the potential risks and learning how to avoid them. Remember there are many uses of acupuncture.