“Is acupuncture safe for people with hemophilia?”
I was diagnosed with hemophilia recently and I'm having trouble managing the pain associated with it. I want to try acupuncture, but I'm worried about how it'll work if I have a bleeding disorder. Is acupuncture safe with hemophilia?
23 Answers
Yes
It should be very careful, acupuncture should combine with herbs to fix this.
This is a question for your doctor, since I am not aware how severe is your condition. Personally, I have patients with hemophilia who responded well to acupuncture.
Yes, as long as your physician is aware of your condition there is no issue.
Acupuncture treatment is rarely to cause bleeding. Please make sure to inform your acupuncturist that you have hemophilia so he/she can press on the needling site a little bite longer in case of tiny bleeding.
Yes, it is safe as long as you find a qualified physician who knows how to work with such condition.
I think this depends on how severe your bleeding is. I have treated those on warfarin and blood thinners without any problem. But, really depends on you. Otherwise, it should be safe. There are other non-needle tools we can use too, if there is a problem with using needles. Still worth it to consult with one of us.
Talk to your hematologist to get referral to licensed acupuncturist with National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The needles are gently inserted beneath the surface of the skin and not introduced into veins or arteries. The needles are sterile and never reused. Acupuncture is safe and should not cause bleeding if done properly.
Many patients are on blood thinners and are hemophiliacs. It is definitely a risk of bleeding. As tiny as the needles may be in terms of gauge, there will always be a risk when the patient has hemophilia. Clotting is an important body function to have especially when receiving any needle penetration into the skin.
It is important to let your acupuncturist know that you have hemophilia so that when they pull the needles out, they can apply a cotton ball on until the bleeding stops. Perhaps even use less needles as well.
It is important to let your acupuncturist know that you have hemophilia so that when they pull the needles out, they can apply a cotton ball on until the bleeding stops. Perhaps even use less needles as well.
Acupuncture is safe for hemophilia patients. I treated a few and no bleeding in general, but occasionally bruises occurred. The beauty of acupuncture is to regulate body chemicals accordingly. We called it dual effects.
It is an important question. When a practitioner is treating a patient with acupuncture, needles are never inserted into blood vessels and the insertion is fairly shallow. Acupuncture is used in blood disorders and when people are on blood thinners. We have not seen any adverse effects caused by the therapy. In any case, I would recommend to discuss your case
with an acupuncturist who has many years of experience before moving forward with your treatment.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
with an acupuncturist who has many years of experience before moving forward with your treatment.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
I never have any patients with hemophilia but I don't think it's a problem with acupuncture since we use very tiny needles. However, the needles might cause bruises.
Hi,
Yes. Acupuncture is safe for hemophilia patients. Just mention your condition to your acupuncture doctor.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In Lee
Yes. Acupuncture is safe for hemophilia patients. Just mention your condition to your acupuncture doctor.
Sincerely,
Scott Sang In Lee
There is always a risk of bruising with acupuncture and having hemophilia puts you at a higher risk. However, the needles we use are very fine and bruising can be avoided with more superficial and gentle needling techniques. Moxibustion is a great technique that doesn't penetrate the skin but still activates the acupuncture points. Practices like cupping and gua sha are not recommended.
Thank you for your question:
Because acupuncture needles are solid and tiny, there is not be a problem treating someone with hemophilia. In all people, acupuncturists are trained to provide safe, side effect-free treatments.
Richard Mandell, Lic.Ac.
Because acupuncture needles are solid and tiny, there is not be a problem treating someone with hemophilia. In all people, acupuncturists are trained to provide safe, side effect-free treatments.
Richard Mandell, Lic.Ac.
There is rarely any blood from the acupuncture needles - especially Japanese needles are extremely fine - about the size of your hair. But I would certainly bring it up to any practitioner you are contemplating going to see to be sure they are comfortable with the disease and know what to do in case they do nick a capillary.
With acupuncture, the "magic" lies in the body's acupoints, not in the needles. The needles merely offer a way to access the body's energy system and there are other ways to access acupoints that don't puncture the skin. You might consider receiving Acupressure or Acutonics (tuning forks on the acupuncture points) or laser "acupuncture". It is probably best to avoid the needles with bleeding disorders.
Acupuncture needles are so thin that they rarely draw blood. In the event they do, it’s a drop. It’s important that the Acupuncturist know of your condition ahead of treatment, but it shouldn’t cause trouble.
Yes! Your acupuncture should be trained in specific points to treat pain with hemophilia.
There are so many alternative forms and modalities that can be applied by an acupuncturist and/or Eastern medicine doctor. I have a patient with hemophilia and have success with all modalities, including a lighter, traditional form of acupuncture to help maintain a good quality of life.
I hope you haven't tried acupuncture... A hemophilia patient cannot have acupuncture because of the obstruction of coagulation.
There is a risk for hemophiliacs when it comes to any type of needles, wounds, injuries, etc. But there are also ways to help minimize the dangers and to address any problems that can result.
If you choose to go to an acupuncturist, make sure they are Licensed Acupuncturists in your state (an L.Ac., not a DC who does acupuncture or a PT doing what they call dry needling). Let the practitioner know of your condition and they will be sure to maintain precautions necessary and should also use point combinations that would call for a minimal amount of needles with mild stimulation.
They may also have herbal formulas that could help you with your situation and pains.
Good luck in your pain management.
If you choose to go to an acupuncturist, make sure they are Licensed Acupuncturists in your state (an L.Ac., not a DC who does acupuncture or a PT doing what they call dry needling). Let the practitioner know of your condition and they will be sure to maintain precautions necessary and should also use point combinations that would call for a minimal amount of needles with mild stimulation.
They may also have herbal formulas that could help you with your situation and pains.
Good luck in your pain management.
I hate to be the one to say this but hemophilia is one of the few contraindications for acupuncture.
You still have a couple of options:
1. You could find someone who is well versed in auricular (ear) acupuncture and make sure they only use seeds or pellets - these do not break the skin, they merely apply pressure to a particular point.
2. You could also look for someone who has been trained in Korean hand acupuncture and uses the Korean press pellets - again, these do not break the skin they only apply pressure.
I've gotten very good results for several pain patients using only ear points or only Korean press pellets on hand points. The advantage to these systems for any patient is: the seeds/pellets can be left in place for up to several days and the patient can be trained to apply the seeds/pellets to themselves and then provided/sold a supply. This makes it easier for some to manage their pain and cuts down on overall visits which can help out financially.
In addition to acupuncture, you will want to avoid cupping, scraping (usually referred to as guasha) and the more intensive forms of massage. Any of these has the potential to cause bruising which, for you, could result in an uncontrolled subcutaneous bleed.
If this is something you decide to pursue, please make sure the practitioner knows up front about your condition. Most of us will ask about clotting disorders and blood thinners up front, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
You still have a couple of options:
1. You could find someone who is well versed in auricular (ear) acupuncture and make sure they only use seeds or pellets - these do not break the skin, they merely apply pressure to a particular point.
2. You could also look for someone who has been trained in Korean hand acupuncture and uses the Korean press pellets - again, these do not break the skin they only apply pressure.
I've gotten very good results for several pain patients using only ear points or only Korean press pellets on hand points. The advantage to these systems for any patient is: the seeds/pellets can be left in place for up to several days and the patient can be trained to apply the seeds/pellets to themselves and then provided/sold a supply. This makes it easier for some to manage their pain and cuts down on overall visits which can help out financially.
In addition to acupuncture, you will want to avoid cupping, scraping (usually referred to as guasha) and the more intensive forms of massage. Any of these has the potential to cause bruising which, for you, could result in an uncontrolled subcutaneous bleed.
If this is something you decide to pursue, please make sure the practitioner knows up front about your condition. Most of us will ask about clotting disorders and blood thinners up front, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
