Acupuncture - an effective complement to standard care

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago. The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques.
The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in all over the world. Acupuncture is being widely practised by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experiences acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pains as the needles are inserted.
Some people are energised by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilisation of needles and from improper delivery of treatments.
Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
There have been many studies on acupuncture's potential usefulness, but results have been mixed because of complexities with study design and size.
However, promising results have emerged, showing efficacy of acupuncture, for example, in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain.
There are other situations-such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma-in which acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program. Acupuncture provides pain relief, improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, and serves as an effective complement to standard care.