Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a system of medical treatment which has been practiced in China for at least 2,500 years. This ancient medical system involves the use of needles to pierce and stimulate areas on the skin’s surface or also within the skin covering the body. The theory behind this system is that the needles manipulate Qi lines in the body – lines along which energy flows. When these are out of balance, acupuncture needles can be used to correct the balance and restore health to an injured or sick person. Although modern science has not yet explained how acupuncture works in its own terms, it has shown that acupuncture is a successful method of treatment which is not simply a matter of the placebo effect. Thus it is increasingly being used by professional healthcare bodies in the treatment of a variety of injuries and illnesses.

Are there any side-effects of acupuncture?

Side-effects are uncommon but largely relate to damage from the needles themselves including accidental puncture of a lung or some serious infections of the liver. Other infections are occasionally reported at puncture sites. Side-effects are usually the result of poorly trained practitioners accidentally misapplying needles or maintaining poor standards of hygiene. In the US acupuncture needles are regulated by the FDA having been removed from the “experimental medical devices” category. This is the same regulating body that oversee standards in scalpels and other medical equipment. This further reduces potential side-effects resulting from improper medical equipment.

What can acupuncture be helpful in treating?

Acupuncture has been shown as a promising treatment for a variety of problems either as a complementary therapy or in some cases as the primary source of treatment. Examples of problems which have been shown to respond to acupuncture treatment include asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, myofascial pain, low back pain, stroke rehabilitation, addiction, tennis elbow and headaches.