Acupuncture
Is Acupuncture safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture
needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that
sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use
by qualified practitioners only.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been
reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year
and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have
resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper
delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable
needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab
treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting
needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious
adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
More Acupuncture
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture
needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that
sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use
by qualified practitioners only.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been
reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year
and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have
resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper
delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable
needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab
treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting
needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious
adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
More Acupuncture
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Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world.
Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known
in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how
doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.
The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical
points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate
medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique
that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic
needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
How widely is acupuncture used in the United States?
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. The report
from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of
physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain
and for various other health conditions. According to the 2002 National Health Interview
Survey--the largest and most comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) use by American adults to date--an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever
used acupuncture, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the
previous year. Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience
acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some
people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement,
movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during
treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture
practitioner.
Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known
in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how
doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.
The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical
points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate
medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique
that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic
needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
How widely is acupuncture used in the United States?
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. The report
from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of
physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain
and for various other health conditions. According to the 2002 National Health Interview
Survey--the largest and most comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) use by American adults to date--an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever
used acupuncture, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the
previous year. Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience
acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some
people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement,
movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during
treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture
practitioner.