Patient education: Acupuncture (The Basics)

What is acupuncture? — 

This involves getting needles inserted into the skin at specific points.

Acupuncture is often considered a type of "complementary" or "alternative" treatment. Some people find it helps them feel better.

Acupuncture began as a form of traditional Chinese medicine. It has been around for thousands of years. Over time, different styles have formed in different parts of the world.

Traditionally, the practice of acupuncture is based on a few things:

●Qi (pronounced "chee") – This is thought to be a type of energy that travels through the body.

●Yin and yang – These are thought to be opposite forces in nature that work together.

●The 5 elements – These are wood, water, fire, earth, and metal. They are thought to represent different parts of a cycle. Practitioners believe certain organs or health conditions are related to certain elements.

The needles are placed at specific points in the body. The points are thought to correspond to specific body parts or health issues.

"Acupressure" is related to acupuncture. But instead of using needles, the practitioner puts pressure on the points.

What types of health problems can acupuncture help with? — 

There is some evidence acupuncture might help for certain health problems. Examples include:

●Different types of pain, such as low back pain and knee pain from arthritis

●Symptoms related to cancer or cancer treatment, like pain or nausea

●Symptoms related to digestion, like chronic constipation

●Anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping

●Headache prevention, especially migraine or tension-type headaches

Evidence is limited, partly because it's hard to study something like acupuncture. That's because different practitioners often have different styles. Also, people might find they feel better after an acupuncture session. But this could be due to other things, for example, if they find the overall experience relaxing.

In general, most doctors do not recommend using acupuncture instead of other medicines or therapies. But some people think it can help when used along with these things.

What happens during an acupuncture session?

●You will meet with a practitioner. This might be in a hospital or health center, or in a licensed practice.

●The practitioner will ask you many questions about your health, symptoms, and feelings. They will also look at and touch some parts of your body.

●You will probably be asked to lie down.

●The practitioner will place thin needles into your skin. Most people do not find the needles painful, but it can be uncomfortable. You will stay still after the needles are placed.

●Sometimes, other techniques are used along with the needles. Examples include heat, an electrical current, or hand pressure.

●A typical session lasts from 15 minutes to about 1 hour. The number of sessions you have depends on why you are getting acupuncture. A typical treatment plan involves going to 1 to 2 sessions a week for 6 to 8 weeks.

Is acupuncture safe? — 

Generally, yes. But like anything involving needles going into the skin, it comes with some risks. These include:

●Pain

●Bleeding

●Skin irritation

●Infection

●Nerve damage

●Injury to nearby organs

Using sterile needles helps prevent spreading infection or other diseases.

People with certain health conditions should not get acupuncture. For example, the needles should not be used in parts of the body where a person has an infection or cancer. People whose immune system is weak, for example, after getting chemotherapy, should also not get acupuncture until their body has recovered.

It's important to talk with your doctor to find out if acupuncture is safe for you. You should also tell the practitioner about your health. This includes whether you are pregnant, have any medical conditions, take any medicines or drugs, or have any medical devices in your body.

What else should I know? — 

If you are thinking about trying acupuncture, talk with your doctor or nurse. They can help guide you to make safe choices based on your health, situation, and preferences. They might also be able to refer you to someone who does acupuncture.

More on this topic

Patient education: Complementary and alternative medicine (The Basics)