Acupuncture is one of the most well-known components of Traditional Chinese Medicine. On the surface, it looks scary, someone sticking long needles all over your body. In reality, acupuncture is not the pain-filled pin cushion experience it may seem. Of course, there are risks with acupuncture; there are risks with everything from flying to getting the mail, after all. Some benefits come from acupuncture, and most people agree the benefits outweigh the risks.
Risks
Before getting into the risks, it’s important to know the best risk-mitigation plan available going into acupuncture treatment. Work with a competent, licensed, and experienced practitioner. Doing this will all but eliminate the risk of organ injury due to needles being inserted too far. A licensed practitioner will also use sterilized, disposable needles to prevent infection. There may be some light soreness or minor bleeding at the needle sites, no matter how good your practitioner is.
Let your acupuncturist know if you are on any blood thinners, have a pacemaker, or are pregnant. The small bleeding risk can become something more serious for people with a clotting disorder, or on blood thinners. Some treatments include applying a slight electrical charge through the needles. With a pacemaker, any electric charge on the body is a concern. Finally, some treatments have been known to induce labor, even ahead of term. As long as you and your acupuncturist keep open lines of communication on your current state of health and their proposed treatment, these risks will be minimized.
Benefits
The primary benefit of acupuncture, especially in modern medicine, is pain relief. In Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture is just one part of a whole life and body treatment plan for many ailments. Beyond headaches, migraines, and minor injuries, acupuncture can play a part in treating anxiety, infertility, insomnia, digestive problems, and even work as part of a weight control program. In some studies, acupuncture has also reduced seasonal allergy symptoms and acid reflux disease.
To truly realize these benefits, a person must stick with a trained and licensed practitioner. At Hummingbird Community Acupuncture in Boulder, CO, you will be in the hands of an experienced and licensed acupuncturist. They will always approach your care with the whole body, mind, and spirit in mind. Click Here to contact us, or give us a call at 303.447.0443!
Resources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/basics/risks/prc-20020778
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1121068/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112450/
