Infection, nerve damage, organ punctures - rare but
they can result from botched Acupuncture
Feeling pins and needles? Could be you're at an
acupuncturist already!
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
Alternative Health Advisor and is an
occasional contributor to several other websites, including
Wellness Digest.
Source: www.articlecube.com