Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy that’s gained popularity in Western alternative medicine since the 1970s. Although acupuncture is increasingly becoming a more widely accepted, mainstream therapy for helping to treat many medical conditions, you must consult your doctor before undergoing acupuncture to discuss any potential health risks.
History
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has used acupuncture as a therapy to correct imbalances in the body’s energy, also called “chi,” according to the University of Michigan Health System. Acupuncturists believe that the body’s chi flows through certain pathways called meridians that affect particular organs, body systems or body functions. By inserting thin needles into the skin along these meridians, acupuncturists attempt to balance chi flow and restore wellness, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Benefits
Acupuncture has the potential to help treat a wide variety of health problems, particularly in relieving pain. When you combine acupuncture with conventional treatments for headaches and migraines, the therapy can prolong the pain relief, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization have supported the use of acupuncture in helping to treat addictions, respiratory conditions, menopausal and menstrual symptoms, urinary incontinence, osteoarthritis and much more. Acupuncture might also help to relieve post-surgery pain and nausea from chemotherapy, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Acupuncture isn’t a replacement for conventional medical treatments of conditions and diseases, but instead it’s sometimes recommended in combination with conventional treatments and medications.
Scientific Evidence
A large randomized clinical trial published in the journal "BMJ" in 2004 found that acupuncture substantially prolonged relief from chronic headaches and migraines when the participants used it in combination with conventional treatments, says the University of Michigan Health System. Two other controlled clinical trials published the same year and in 2005 in "Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain" found that acupuncture may effectively treat chronic headaches, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Another randomized controlled medical study published in the "Clinical Journal of Pain" in 2008 found some benefits of acupuncture in preventing migraines, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Considerations
You can minimize risks by seeing an acupuncturist who is certified or has a state license. In general, acupuncture cannot and should not replace conventional treatments or medications for a health condition or disease, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Therefore, you should discuss adding acupuncture to your current treatment. Likewise, you should tell your acupuncturist about the conventional treatments and medications that you’re taking to treat the medical problem, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Warnings
Very few people experience any side effects or other health problems from having acupuncture. A certified or licensed acupuncturist should use only sterilized or fresh disposable needles to prevent the risk of infections. Also, you should be careful about having acupuncture performed during pregnancy. Although certain pressure points on your body can be helpful during pregnancy, some may be harmful, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have a pacemaker, you should avoid undergoing acupuncture therapy with electrical stimulation, because this could interfere with the device. You should also be cautious about having acupuncture performed if you have neutropenia, thrombocytopenia or endocarditis, due to the risk of bleeding and infection, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Talk to your doctor before seeking acupuncture therapy to discuss these potential dangers.
