• CAM-summaries
  • Alternative medical systems
    • Acupuncture for nausea
      • What is Acupuncture?
      • How well does Acupuncture work?
      • Is Acupuncture safe?
      • Acupuncture conclusions
    • TCM for pancreatic cancer
  • Biologically-based practices
  • Diet & nutrition
  • Energy medicine
  • Manipulative & body-based practices
  • Mind-body medicine
• CAM systematic reviews
• CAM and the law
• Prevalence of CAM use

Is Acupuncture safe?

Large-scale studies of side and adverse effects in acupuncture have shown that pneumothorax and burns occur at a rate of 1 per 10,000 to 100,000 treatments, while minor adverse effects (fainting, bleeding, tiredness and pain) occur regularly (a rate of 1 per 2 to 10 treatments) (ref 14-16). When acupuncture is used for nausea and vomiting, only one needle is usually used at one point on each arm, the risk of side and adverse effects is therefore very low.

References

14. Norheim AJ, Fønnebø V. Acupuncture adverse effects are more than occasional case reports. Compl Ther Med 1996;4:14-20

15. Yamashita H, Tsukayama H, Tanno Y, Nishijo K. Adverse events in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment: a six-year survey at a national clinic in Japan. J Alt Compl Ther 1999;5:229-36

16. Ernst E, White AW. Prospective studies of safety in acupuncture: a systematic review. Am J Med 2001;110:481-5