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This thread is about the range of pains that can be cured by this technique and particularly their adverse effects experienced or known by any of you should be discussed here. Although this is a very effective technique but practices of this has limitations and consequences at times. I would like to refer here the survey done by a survey by Ernst G, Strzyz H, Hagmeister H (2003) which concluded with
“Acupuncture has adverse effects, like any therapeutic approach. If it is used according to established safety rules and carefully at appropriate anatomic regions, it is a safe treatment method.”
11:57 am September 6, 2008
Liz
Member
posts 38
2
I would like to add the details of this survey. The survey done by Ernst G, Strzyz H, Hagmeister H (2003). “Incidence of adverse effects during acupuncture therapy-a multicentre survey”. Complementary therapies in medicine). of over 400 patients receiving over 3500 acupuncture treatments found that the most common adverse effects from acupuncture were:
Minor bleeding after removal of the needles, seen in roughly 3% of patients. (Holding a cotton ball for about one minute over the site of puncture is usually sufficient to stop the bleeding.) Hematoma, seen in about 2% of patients, which manifests as bruises. These usually go away after a few days.
Dizziness, seen in about 1% of patients. Some patients have a conscious or unconscious fear of needles which can produce dizziness and other symptoms of anxiety. Patients are usually treated lying down in order to reduce likelihood of fainting.
11:57 am September 6, 2008
Liz
Member
posts 38
3
Although these are the minor injuries. There are other reported possible severe injuries. These injuries particularly result from the
Other risks of injury from the insertion of acupuncture needles include:
Nerve injury, resulting from the accidental puncture of any nerve.
Brain damage or stroke, which is possible with very deep needling at the base of the skull.
Pneumothorax from deep needling into the lung.
Kidney damage from deep needling in the low back.
Haemopericardium, or puncture of the protective membrane surrounding the heart, which may occur with needling over a sternal foramen (a hole in the breastbone that occurs as the result of a congenital defect.)
Risk of terminating pregnancy with the use of certain acupuncture points that have been shown to stimulate the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and oxytocin.
The chance of these is very small; the risk can be further reduced through proper training of acupuncturists. Graduates of medical schools and (in the US) accredited acupuncture schools receive thorough instruction in proper technique so as to avoid these events. (Cf. Cheng, 1987)
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