What is acupuncture, its procedure and side effects? What conditions are treated with acupuncture?

This post is not a medical advice. It is only for educational and informational purpose only.

The medical treatment in which needles are inserted into the body is called acupuncture. It is very primitive method used in China as traditional treatment and dates back to 2500 years. This method is used for variety of conditions but mostly used for the relief of pain. It is not a treatment but it is used with other treatments and is very effective.

This method spread to USA and Europe in 1972, when President Richard Nixon visited China and learnt about it. This method involves different procedures in which specific points are stimulated in or on the skin with the help of different techniques. In USA, there are different approaches of acupuncture that incorporate the medical traditions of different countries like China, Korea and Japan.

It is believed that there are different energy flow patterns in our body which are very essential for our body. If there is any disruption in this flow, it ultimately leads to specific disease. Acupuncture is used at specific points in the body, which are usually close to skin, to correct this flow balance.

The most widely used method of acupuncture involves the penetration of skin by thin metallic needles. These needles are operated manually or with the help of electrical stimulation.

How acupuncture is performed?

During acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into the skin. During typical session, the patient is lying still and around five to twenty needles are inserted. Normally, these needles are left for ten to twenty minutes. It can be accompanied by application of pressure, heat or laser light. There is no scientific research involved and it is performed individually based on insight and philosophy.

There are different techniques applied in different countries, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the most widely used worldwide. It involves needle insertion, moxibustion and cupping therapy. It is associated with other procedures like pulse feeling and examining the tongue. It involves the belief that a “life force” (qi) flows within the body in specific lines called meridians. The Western medical acupuncture is used after a medical diagnosis. Hence there is no specific standard procedure for acupuncture.

The skin is sterilized before insertion of needles. The needles can be used in different ways, including spinning, brushing, up and down relative to skin. The quick insertion is recommended because most of the pain is felt in superficial skin layers. Acupuncture is usually painful procedure. A highly skilled acupuncturist would be able to insert needles without any pain.

Which conditions are treated by acupuncture?

Acupuncture has successfully treated many conditions during hundreds of clinical studies and is recommended during addiction, headache, stroke, menstrual cramps, low back pain, dental pain, depression, insomnia, hypertension, sprain, knee pain, labor pain, infertility and asthma. In these conditions, acupuncture can be useful as an assistant treatment. Acupuncture has shown promising results in some post-operative conditions and in chemotherapy.

Are there any side effects of acupuncture?

Generally acupuncture is safe if it is done by professional acupuncturist using clean and single use needles. The side effects of acupuncture normally surface due to untrained acupuncturist and poor hygiene. After an acupuncture, most of the patients feel sensations which are usually not comfortable.

The most common injury which is reported from the needles is unintentional puncture of the lung, which results in partial collapse called pneumothorax. There are also reports of infections; most common is viral hepatitis, which is infection of liver. There are also local bacterial infections at the point of needle insertions.

The common side effects of acupuncture include itching, fatigue, mild bruising, post-acupuncture lightheadedness, emotional release and muscle twitches. However most of the side effects are not fatal and usually disappear after few hours/days. It can be very dangerous for a person who has bleeding disorder.

The FDA has regulated acupuncture needles as medical devices. There are certain standards to manufacture and label the needles. These must be sterile, nontoxic and labelled for single use only. It is also advised to use it along with conventional treatments.

References:
1- Wikipedia
2- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488.php
3-https://www.medicinenet.com/acupuncture/article.htm#are_there_standards_for_acupuncture_needles
4- https://www.riverwestacupuncture.com/posts/six-uncommon-side-effects-of-acupuncture/

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