Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice. Small, hair-like needles are placed into the skin, which causes the body to produce endorphins, hormones and neurotransmitters. These work with the body's central nervous system to treat ailments such as pain and stiffness, and to correct certain behaviors. Acupuncture has been used to treat addictions such as smoking and alcoholism. Unfortunately, acupuncture is not perfect. Some patients have reported some negative side effects from the treatment.
Bleeding
Although it is quite rare and mostly minimal when it occurs, acupuncture can cause bleeding in some patients. An article in the "British Medical Journal" showed that, in a study of 10,000 participants, 320 did report some level of bleeding as a result of their treatment. The vast majority of the cases were minor, and the bleeding stopped rapidly.
Needle Pain
For most people, acupuncture is completely painless. However, in rare instances, patients experience pain from the needles. The "British Medical Journal" reported that out of 10,000 surveyed, an average of 110 people experience needle pain from acupuncture. Most cases were minor. Only a few stated the pain was significant.
Bruising
Bruising is also a possible side effect from acupuncture. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed that more than 29 percent of their participants showed some type of bruising at the needle site. The NIH said that the effects were short-term and that most of the bruising occurred in female patients.
Tiredness
Tiredness is another possible negative side effect of acupuncture. The National Institutes of Health stated that in its study, 24 percent of the participants stated they felt tired or drowsy after treatment. Most of these were people that had never experienced sleep disorders and were not seeking treatment for insomnia. This was a concern for some participants, particularly if they had to drive home from the study.
Explanations
Although both the "British Medical Journal" and the National Institutes of Health both cited negative effects of acupuncture in their studies, most could be explained with a variety of reasons. Some participants were experiencing the treatment for the first time, while others were receiving treatments from people who had been certified and practicing for less than two years. Only 13 percent of all people studied stated that the adverse side effects would stop them from getting future treatments.
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