What is acupuncture?
Practitioners use acupuncture treatment – a traditional Chinese medicine – by inserting thin, sterile needles at specific points on the body to treat pain, facilitate healing and promote physical and mental well-being.
Acupuncture stimulates energy channels on the body – called Qi – that are considered pathways for vital energy. The points where the needles are inserted correspond to these energy channels, also called meridians. The number of meridians is not precisely known – some experts claim there are 14 main channels with 2,000 acupuncture points, while others claim up to 20 meridians.
According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children in the United States used acupuncture the previous year. What should I be aware of if I undergo acupuncture?
Tell your whole team of health care providers – including primary care physicians – if you plan to seek acupuncture treatment or are undergoing acupuncture. This helps achieve safer, coordinated health care.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles, requiring they meet certain standards, including being non-toxic, sterile, labeled for single use and used only by qualified practitioners.
Acupuncturists are highly regulated in the United States by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Most patients feel no or minimal amounts of pain when the acupuncture needles are inserted. The needles are solid yet hair-thin. Some report feeling energized, or relaxed, during treatment sessions. Movement or a defective needle can result in pain or soreness.
Acupuncture treatment sessions usually last between 45 and 90 minutes. A patient may go for acupuncture treatment over the span of several weeks or more.Is acupuncture safe?
In general it appears to be safe. However, there are reports to the FDA of serious adverse events such as Pneumothorax, Hepatitis, and cardiac trauma, among others.How do I find a qualified acupuncturist?
Ask your health care provider for referrals to qualified acupuncture practitioners. Your regular, conventional medical professional may even offer acupuncture.
Check credentials – acupuncturists in most states need licenses to practice; however, standards and education requirements vary by state. A license is a good indicator the acupuncture practitioner meets the state’s requirements, but it does not always ensure top-quality care.
Check with your primary care physician whether acupuncture may help your condition – do not rely on an acupuncturist without a conventional medical license to diagnose conditions.What symptoms and conditions are typically treated by an acupuncturist?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is used to treat many types of pain. The most commonly reported use of acupuncture is for back pain, followed by joint pain, neck pain and headache pain. Research also suggests it’s effective in treating osteoarthritis, particularly knee pain.
Acupuncture has been studied as a treatment for a wide variety of conditions and pains – including substance withdrawal, postoperative dental pain, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, severe migraine pain and more – but it’s difficult to draw conclusions as to its effectiveness. Due to the many different acupuncture techniques, such as electrical versus manual, and variations in the controls used in studies and measuring outcomes, further research is needed to determine effectiveness. Related Articles:
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