Acupuncture Safety and other Common Misunderstandings

There are many misconceptions about acupuncture — misunderstandings and misinformation that unfortunately make some people hesitate to seek treatment that could really help them. Acupuncture can be a safe, effective treatment for many conditions and the World Health Organization along with the National Institutes for Health recognize acupuncture as being effective for pain, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, respiratory problems and more.

Many of my patients initially come to me with questions or concerns about acupuncture so I’d like to take the opportunity to answer the most common ones here:

You can get infections from acupuncture needles — When performed by a licensed acupuncturist, only disposable sterile needles are used for acupuncture in a clean and sterile environment. These needles are approved by the FDA, come in sealed packages, are used once and then disposed of.

Acupuncture is painful — Far from being an uncomfortable procedure, acupuncture can be very relaxing. Some patients may experience a tingling sensation or tightness but many patients feel nothing at all.

Acupuncture is only effective for a limited number of conditions — As I mentioned at the top of this post, acupuncture has proven to be effective for a wide range of conditions, including digestive, cardiovascular, allergies, women’s health issues, muscular-skeletal, neurological, dental and many others. You can see the full list of the conditions that acupuncture has been recognized as being effective for on our Conditions Treated page.

Acupuncture only works because of the placebo effect — A 2002 study published in the American Journal of Public Health involving 62 patients concluded that the effectiveness of acupuncture was not driven by the placebo effect, the patient’s hopefulness or the belief that it would work, but by the effectiveness of the treatment itself. The relationship between the patient and the practitioner was a factor, so it’s important to choose a provider that is empathetic and understands your needs.

If you have any questions on acupuncture or want to know what to expect for your first appointment, you can visit my Acupuncture main page or feel free to contact me.