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Acupuncture

Published by Bupa's health information team, May 2009.

This factsheet is for people who are planning to have acupuncture, or who would like information about it.

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that typically involves puncturing the skin with needles in defined points to relieve pain and reduce the symptoms of certain conditions.

Your care will be adapted to meet your individual needs and may differ from what is described here. So it's important that you follow your acupuncturist's advice.

About acupuncture

Acupuncture has existed as part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years but it's only in the past 30 years that it has become integrated into general medicine. It's used mostly as a complementary treatment (one given alongside conventional treatments).

Practitioners of TCM believe that energy called qi flows around your body in channels (meridians). Equal and opposite properties called yin and yang are thought to become unbalanced, causing illness. The needles used in acupuncture aim to restore this balance.

The way acupuncture works is being increasingly understood in general medicine. In this setting, it's based on the idea that acupuncture needles stimulate nerve endings and alter the way your brain functions, particularly in relation to how your body responds to pain.

Acupuncture is used to treat a range of conditions. There is good scientific evidence for its effectiveness in relieving:

Acupuncture is used in many other common illnesses such as depression and asthma. However, the evidence isn't clear and more studies are needed to test the effectiveness of acupuncture.

It's claimed that acupuncture improves the rate of pregnancy in women having in vitro fertilisation, although more research is needed to confirm early findings.

Where can I find an acupuncturist?

To find an acupuncturist who practises traditional acupuncture, check the members list on the British Acupuncture Council website. Members have a minimum of three years' training in acupuncture.

If you're interested in getting in touch with a healthcare professional who practises medical acupuncture, check with The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS). All BMAS acupuncturists are fully qualified and registered health professionals who have also had additional training in medical acupuncture.

About the procedure

It's important to visit your GP before having acupuncture to help diagnose your condition and to ensure that acupuncture is an appropriate treatment for you.

If you decide to have acupuncture, you will first have a detailed consultation. The acupuncturist will ask you questions about your medical history, diet, lifestyle and health problems. He or she may also examine you. You can ask any questions you might have.

Traditional acupuncture

If you're having traditional acupuncture, your therapist shouldn't make a medical diagnosis as he or she isn't trained to do so. However, your therapist can advise you on a course of acupuncture treatment.

In your first consultation, particular attention may be paid to your tongue and pulse. Practitioners of traditional acupuncture will use this is to assess your physical health and flow of energy. Don't eat or drink anything immediately before your appointment that may cause discolouration of your tongue (such as coffee).

Your acupuncturist may feel for tender 'trigger' points in the tissues under your skin. There are approximately 500 trigger or acupuncture points in your body, which if stimulated with needles, may affect how certain organs work.

You're likely to have a number of needles, up to 12, inserted half a centimetre to several centimetres into your skin. The sensation when the needle goes in is often described as a tingling or dull ache. The needles will target a selection of acupuncture points in your body. Your acupuncturist may insert each needle and immediately remove it, or leave the needles in place for 30 minutes or more.

Different acupuncture points may be selected during your course of treatment. A typical course of treatment lasts four to six sessions.

Moxibustion

Traditional acupuncturists may use additional techniques such as moxibustion - this is the burning of a herb just above the surface of the skin. The herb is either attached to an acupuncture needle or held in a cigar-shaped stick. Acupuncturists think this warms the acupuncture points and encourages the body's energy - qi - to flow smoothly.

Cupping

Cupping is another technique where heated cups are placed on the skin to create a vacuum and stimulate an acupuncture point.

Medical acupuncture

In medical acupuncture, as with traditional acupuncture, the practitioner will assess your condition and your treatment will be tailored to you.

It's likely that fine needles will be inserted through your skin and left in position briefly. Sometimes manual or low voltage electrical stimulation is used to assist the process. The number of needles varies but may be only two or three.

You may have treatment sessions once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals if your condition responds. A typical course of treatment lasts five to eight sessions.

If your practitioner feels that your condition can't be treated with acupuncture, he or she will recommend that you see your GP or appropriate specialist.

People often feel relaxed after an acupuncture treatment. You may feel quite tired or drowsy for a few hours so bear this in mind if you plan to drive home.

You may have a short-term flare-up of your symptoms after your treatment.

Is acupuncture effective?

There is much discussion over the extent to which the effects of acupuncture are due to a placebo (dummy) response. Recent trials have compared acupuncture with a form of sham treatment that looks like acupuncture but doesn't involve piercing the skin. The results seem to suggest that much of the effect relies on people's belief that the procedure is working.

What are the risks?

Side-effects are the unwanted, but mostly mild and temporary effects of a successful treatment. Side-effects of acupuncture may include:

Complications are when problems occur during or after the treatment. Although very rare, potential complications of acupuncture include:

Special precautions need to be taken if you're pregnant so it's important to tell your acupuncturist if you are or could be pregnant.

Related topics

Further information

Sources

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: May 2009