Skeptical about Acupuncture?
According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), results from numerous studies suggest acupuncture may help ease chronic types of pain like low-back, neck, knee, and osteoarthritis pain. Acupuncture may further help reduce the frequency of tension headaches AND prevent migraine headaches. Thus, the NIH and NCCIH suggest acupuncture is a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.
The caveat is that clinical practice guidelines are inconsistent. Why?
Because Western science measurements often cannot measure the effects of acupuncture on the brain and body, and ways in which we can measure them are only beginning to be understood. Further evidence suggests that many “non-related” factors may also play an important role, such as patient expectation, belief, and connection to the acupuncturist may well have an effect on the outcomes. Turns out that bedside manner may actually play a role in your healing after all.1
So What Does Science Have to Say About Safety and Side Effects?
There are few complications from trained acupuncturists. Most injuries and the rare hospitalizations arise from unethical practitioners and medical professionals performing acupuncture outside of their scope of practice. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs, collapsed lungs, and injury to the central nervous system. You've seen these in the news. NONE OF THEM have been at the hands of trained acupuncturists.
The most common injury I have seen in practice is the occasional bruise at the site of a needle insertion and some numbness in the hand when pressure is placed on the median nerve in the forearm. This numbness resolves as soon as the needle is removed (and we always check in and remove or move the needle as soon as you say “Ouch!” or give us feedback about numbness. Bruising takes 3-5 days to resolve, as with any bruise.
NCCIH Research
NCCIH funds research to evaluate acupuncture and it’s effectiveness for various kinds of pain and other conditions. The goal is to further understand how the body responds to acupuncture and how acupuncture might actually work. Some recent studies have examined acupuncture to reduce frequency of hot flashes in menopause, if acupuncture can alleviate or reduce pain and discomfort associated with chemotherapy, and if acupuncture is more effective than the “usual care” for pain relief. (The short answer is ‘Yes’.)
The NCCIH would like you to consider the following:
▪ “Don’t use acupuncture instead of to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.”
A good acupuncturist will just usher you out the door to your primary MD anyway. Bring us a copy of your diagnosis and lab results. We are happy to work with you and your MD to provide you the best care.
▪ “If you decide to visit an acupuncturist, check his or her credentials. Most states require a license, certification, or registration to practice acupuncture; however, education and training standards and requirements for obtaining these vary from state to state. Although a license does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge and use of acupuncture. Most states require a diploma from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for licensing.”
This is true in Washington state.
▪ “Some conventional medical practitioners—including physicians and dentists—practice acupuncture. In addition, national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or by searching the Internet) may provide referrals to acupuncturists. When considering practitioners, ask about their training and experience.”
Just like you should with ANY medical provider. Don’t be afraid to find the right person to help you care for YOU.
▪ “Ask the practitioner about the estimated number of treatments needed and how much each treatment will cost. Some insurance companies may cover the costs of acupuncture, while others may not. For more information, see NCCIH’s fact sheet Paying for Complementary Health Approaches."
For chronic problems, the time table is likely to be longer. 6-12 visits is pretty routine for short to medium term problems. You should begin seeing results within the first 3-4 visits. Results like sleeping better, reduced need for ibuprofen or acetaminophen, improved outlook and emotional resiliency should begin within 2-3 visits. If you aren’t seeing any change in your situation, have a discussion with your acupuncturist about your concerns and their plan for your care.
▪ “Help your health care providers give you better coordinated and safe care by telling them about all the health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health.”
We are here to be a part of your health care team!
1) Ko SJ, Park JW, Leem J, Kaptchuk TJ, Napadow V, Kuo B, Gerber J, Dimisko L, Yeo I, Lee J, Kim J. Influence of the patient-practitioner interaction context on acupuncture outcomes in functional dyspepsia: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Jul 14;17(1):363. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1869-y.
For more information, go to https://nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction#hed3