Our New Articles
Acupuncture, What Are The Side Effects Of Acupuncture?
by Karina Jacobsen
Although the incidences of serious side effects from the practice of acupuncture are rare, they do exist. Many of the side effects are minor, but since acupuncture involves puncturing the skin with needles, the potential does exist for harmful effects to occur.
But first of all, let’s define what acupuncture is. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which has been practiced for centuries in China and has spread around the globe in modern times. It is widely practiced in many countries including the United States. Acupuncture involves piercing the skin with needles along the energy meridians of the body in an attempt to heal illness or treat addictions.
Now let’s look at some of the minor side effects which may occur. These are harmless and should clear up on their own without further treatment and include bruising, bleeding after removal of the needle, and psychological effects which might cause dizziness and fainting. These side effects are similar to what one would experience with a shot or having blood work drawn.
We will now examine the rare but serious side effects of Acupuncture.
Infection Since the needles pierce the skin, there is the potential for introducing bacteria into the bloodstream and causing an infection at the puncture site or elsewhere in the body. An important consideration is the sterilization process of the needles to be used so that the chance of the needles being contaminated is reduced. Also improperly sterilized needles can transmit AIDS/HIV as well as other deadly diseases such as hepatitis and encephalopathy (mad cow disease.) Nerve damage Nerve damage can occur as a result of a nerve being pierced or nicked when inserting the Acupuncture needle.
Organ punctures Inserting the needle deep into the lung can cause a pneumothorax to develop which means air will escape out of the lung and be trapped there causing the lung to collapse. The same potential exists for the other vital organs of the body. There is the chance a kidney or the protective sac around the heart could be punctured. There is also a risk of stroke induced by Acupuncture if the needle is inserted improperly at the base of the skull.
Luckily, acupuncturists are highly trained to avoid the above harmful consequences of acupuncture and indeed they are quite rare. To reduce your risks make sure you go to a licensed qualified practitioner and ask about their procedures for sterilizing needles.
About The Author: Karina Jacobsen is a staff writer at http://www.alternativehealthadvisor.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.wellness-digest.com.
These articles on lifestyle and more
Return to the selection of acupuncture
You may want to try these articles on acupuncture
Acupuncture, How To Maximize Acupuncture Weight Loss by Annie Beal Approximately 540 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture: Health Benefits In Abundance by Gisela Harris Approximately 344 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture Charts - A Closer Look At The 14 Meridians by Brian Winkels Approximately 435 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture And Ivf - The Secret Of Success by Brian Winkels Approximately 398 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture For Migraines - Studies Show It Does Work by Lee Dobbins Approximately 407 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture - Assisting Infertility Through Better Ovarian Function by Brian Winkels Approximately 560 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture And Fertility - An Alternative Treatment by Brian Winkels Approximately 529 Words
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture_point
http://www.acupuncture.com/animals/
http://medicalacupuncture.org/
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
Although the incidences of serious side effects from the practice of acupuncture are rare, they do exist. Many of the side effects are minor, but since acupuncture involves puncturing the skin with needles, the potential does exist for harmful effects to occur.
But first of all, let’s define what acupuncture is. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which has been practiced for centuries in China and has spread around the globe in modern times. It is widely practiced in many countries including the United States. Acupuncture involves piercing the skin with needles along the energy meridians of the body in an attempt to heal illness or treat addictions.
Now let’s look at some of the minor side effects which may occur. These are harmless and should clear up on their own without further treatment and include bruising, bleeding after removal of the needle, and psychological effects which might cause dizziness and fainting. These side effects are similar to what one would experience with a shot or having blood work drawn.
We will now examine the rare but serious side effects of Acupuncture.
Infection Since the needles pierce the skin, there is the potential for introducing bacteria into the bloodstream and causing an infection at the puncture site or elsewhere in the body. An important consideration is the sterilization process of the needles to be used so that the chance of the needles being contaminated is reduced. Also improperly sterilized needles can transmit AIDS/HIV as well as other deadly diseases such as hepatitis and encephalopathy (mad cow disease.) Nerve damage Nerve damage can occur as a result of a nerve being pierced or nicked when inserting the Acupuncture needle.
Organ punctures Inserting the needle deep into the lung can cause a pneumothorax to develop which means air will escape out of the lung and be trapped there causing the lung to collapse. The same potential exists for the other vital organs of the body. There is the chance a kidney or the protective sac around the heart could be punctured. There is also a risk of stroke induced by Acupuncture if the needle is inserted improperly at the base of the skull.
Luckily, acupuncturists are highly trained to avoid the above harmful consequences of acupuncture and indeed they are quite rare. To reduce your risks make sure you go to a licensed qualified practitioner and ask about their procedures for sterilizing needles.
About The Author: Karina Jacobsen is a staff writer at http://www.alternativehealthadvisor.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.wellness-digest.com.
These articles on lifestyle and more
Reprint this article free of charge as long as you keep the author's resource box or bio intact and the links active. A copy of the ezine or URL of the page where the article was reprinted emailed to the author would be very much appreciated. acupuncture
Return to the selection of acupuncture
You may want to try these articles on acupuncture
Acupuncture, How To Maximize Acupuncture Weight Loss by Annie Beal Approximately 540 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture: Health Benefits In Abundance by Gisela Harris Approximately 344 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture Charts - A Closer Look At The 14 Meridians by Brian Winkels Approximately 435 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture And Ivf - The Secret Of Success by Brian Winkels Approximately 398 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture For Migraines - Studies Show It Does Work by Lee Dobbins Approximately 407 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture - Assisting Infertility Through Better Ovarian Function by Brian Winkels Approximately 560 Words
Acupuncture, Acupuncture And Fertility - An Alternative Treatment by Brian Winkels Approximately 529 Words
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture_point
http://www.acupuncture.com/animals/
http://medicalacupuncture.org/
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
