“What are the negative side effects of acupuncture?”
I am a 52 year old male. I will have an acupuncture treatment next week. What are the negative side effects of acupuncture?
21 Answers
Congratulations on scheduling your first acupuncture session. You are on the road to recovery. If you have chosen a licensed and experienced practitioner, then all you need to know is: have a well balanced meal prior to your appointment, stay calm, relaxed and open minded. You should not experience any negative side effects if the treatment was carried out properly, taking note of any contraindications (ex: any metal implants in the body, pace maker, allergies, etc.). Disclose any and all information pertinent to your treatment and reason for visit.
Hi, there are no negative side effects of acupuncture.
Hi,
Sometimes, the needle may break the blood vessel that causes bleeding. If you feel sharp pain during the treatment, let your doctor know. It prevents the bleeding.
Huan Wen Fang
Sometimes, the needle may break the blood vessel that causes bleeding. If you feel sharp pain during the treatment, let your doctor know. It prevents the bleeding.
Huan Wen Fang
Hi. Mild bruises or tingling sensation after treatment are possible, other than that i don't see much negative side effects.
There will not have negative side effects as long as the doctor makes right diagnosis. Please eat some before acupuncture treatment. Never let your stomach empty before acupuncture treatment.
The most common side effect of acupuncture is bruising at the needle site. Some people are more tired after their treatment, but usually people are just relaxed. Enjoy your treatment!
Not many side effects with acupuncture. Maybe some soreness depending on the condition or feel I little tired after but that’s it. That’s why it’s so amazing.
Hello,
Depending on what the treatment is for and your medical history. It's hard to say, but some patients report more visits to the washroom, some say they felt sleepy after the treatment, while others report a bit of discomfort at certain meridian points, while others feel NOTHING which sometimes bothers them as they expect to feel something or maybe a tangible improvement from the first session or two which is not always possible since many acupuncture treatments may be necessary to achieve success. Very rarely does someone report more annoying or worrisome side effects. Acupuncture is very very gentle therapy and very effective as well.
I'm certain you will feel relaxed.
Depending on what the treatment is for and your medical history. It's hard to say, but some patients report more visits to the washroom, some say they felt sleepy after the treatment, while others report a bit of discomfort at certain meridian points, while others feel NOTHING which sometimes bothers them as they expect to feel something or maybe a tangible improvement from the first session or two which is not always possible since many acupuncture treatments may be necessary to achieve success. Very rarely does someone report more annoying or worrisome side effects. Acupuncture is very very gentle therapy and very effective as well.
I'm certain you will feel relaxed.
Expect your treatment to have one of the possible effects: you feel nothing, or pain goes away, pain gets worse, maybe you feel effects hours later that are better or worse, or you may feel relaxed and well for a few days. There really are no negative side effects like a prescription medication might. However if you want to maximize your treatment eat healthy (Chinese diet therapy), herbs, and use moderate exercise in your lifestyle. Get plenty of rest, don’t stay up late smoking and/or drinking alcohol. Stay hydrated, keep your stress levels low, learn healthy habits like qigong, taijiquan, and meditation to strengthen your vital force.- Matt
Some patients might feel lightheaded, numbness, distention, or heaviness. In some cases, pain can get worse before it gets better. Make sure you eat something before a treatment.
Yours in health,
Angie
Yours in health,
Angie
Negative side effects of acupuncture are not often seen, as long as the acupuncturist has had the full three years plus of training. (Some medical professionals are able to get abbreviated training - unfortunately they are less able to understand the subtler aspects of working with their patients' energy) Acupuncturists carefully evaluate new patients and monitor them to assure their comfort; and adjust the treatments accordingly. I always check in during treatment with new patients to make sure everything's fine. Usually they are very relaxed or asleep :)
The worst-case can be bruising or does not work. Needles regulate your body chemicals to treat yourself.
As far as I know, Acupuncture has no negative side effects. You can get a lot relaxation and pain relief.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Be well, be confident, we can help.
Possibly a bruise
Optimal Health
You may have some soreness or minor bruising in the areas of the needles, and you may leave feeling fatigued or a little dizzy or lightheaded. Otherwise, there are no significant side effects of acupuncture when administered by a state licensed or certified practitioner. To prevent dizziness and lightheadedness, make sure you eat about an hour before your treatment. You don't want to be treated on an empty stomach, but you also don't want to be treated on a full one.
If you feel your condition worsens, keep in mind that some conditions will get worse before they get better. Ask your practitioner if this is the case. If you feel worse after every treatment, however, consider a new practitioner or a different style of acupuncture.
If you feel your condition worsens, keep in mind that some conditions will get worse before they get better. Ask your practitioner if this is the case. If you feel worse after every treatment, however, consider a new practitioner or a different style of acupuncture.
Normally, acupuncture no negative side effects, but if you meet a bad acupuncturist, you may get negative side effects.
When performed by a licensed professional, the side-effects of acupuncture are nil. There's maybe a pinching feeling in the area of needling or some itchy or soreness after the needling, but it's much less a feeling than, say, when you get a shot for a vaccine or a blood draw.
The most common side-effect, really, is a sense of relaxation and a better sense of wellness. But, of course, sometimes theres a tingling sensation while being needled or a jump in the muscle, etc. None of this is dangerous or permanent. There are times when a small drop of blood may come out when needle is removed, but that too is easily rectified by holding a cotton ball to it - similar to after a blood draw, but again, much less intense.
Serious side effects only usually occur from great negligence or from severely untrained people, which is why the acupuncture community does not like when Physical Therapists do a technique they call "dry needling" or when Chiropractors take a few courses and call themselves "acupuncturists" without full training that a Licensed Acupuncturist received.
So, be sure your practitioner is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) not a PT doing needling and not a Chiro who "also does acupuncture" and you will be in good hands.
Good luck.
The most common side-effect, really, is a sense of relaxation and a better sense of wellness. But, of course, sometimes theres a tingling sensation while being needled or a jump in the muscle, etc. None of this is dangerous or permanent. There are times when a small drop of blood may come out when needle is removed, but that too is easily rectified by holding a cotton ball to it - similar to after a blood draw, but again, much less intense.
Serious side effects only usually occur from great negligence or from severely untrained people, which is why the acupuncture community does not like when Physical Therapists do a technique they call "dry needling" or when Chiropractors take a few courses and call themselves "acupuncturists" without full training that a Licensed Acupuncturist received.
So, be sure your practitioner is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) not a PT doing needling and not a Chiro who "also does acupuncture" and you will be in good hands.
Good luck.
There’s no side effect!!
A common negative side effects from acupuncture is bruising. They are not very common, but under certain circumstances, a chances of bruising may occur because not all veins and arteries are visible.
It depends on who is performing the acupuncture. For the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to assume you're seeing someone who is licensed as an acupuncturist in your state. This will be a practitioner who graduated from a school of Chinese medicine and is probably nationally board certified in acupuncture.
If that's the case, the odds you're going to experience a negative effect from acupuncture are very remote. Generally speaking, acupuncture is an extremely safe procedure. Here are the risks from most likely to least likely:
1. Mild itch, slight pain, swelling or bruising at the needle site. Itch is by far the most common thing my patients report, and it usually goes away in an hour or two. Slight pain, swelling or bruising is a lot less common but can happen. If any of these occur, they typically resolve in a day or two.
2. More severe pain occurring while the needle is inserted or persisting after the needle is removed. To be honest, I've never had this happen so I'm not sure how common it is. Generally though, the literature says this type of pain resolves in 5-7 days.
3. Organ puncture. This is only an issue when needling over the chest or abdomen. The lungs are most susceptible to this type of damage.
4. Infection. I list it because it technically is a risk, but I've never heard of any infectious outbreak in the US being traced to an acupuncture clinic. In fact, the only case I'm aware of comes from Canada in the 1980's and was due to needle re-use. Modern clinics utilize single-use factory sterilized needles which are used one time on one patient and then discarded in an appropriate container.
Your provider should explain all the potential risks prior to any treatment. Make sure you deal with any questions you may have up front. No one should be upset or put off by explaining risks and benefits and going over their clinic procedures for creating a safe, clean environment.
If you're seeing a chiropractor or a physical therapist who is offering "acupuncture-like" services, all bets are off.
If that's the case, the odds you're going to experience a negative effect from acupuncture are very remote. Generally speaking, acupuncture is an extremely safe procedure. Here are the risks from most likely to least likely:
1. Mild itch, slight pain, swelling or bruising at the needle site. Itch is by far the most common thing my patients report, and it usually goes away in an hour or two. Slight pain, swelling or bruising is a lot less common but can happen. If any of these occur, they typically resolve in a day or two.
2. More severe pain occurring while the needle is inserted or persisting after the needle is removed. To be honest, I've never had this happen so I'm not sure how common it is. Generally though, the literature says this type of pain resolves in 5-7 days.
3. Organ puncture. This is only an issue when needling over the chest or abdomen. The lungs are most susceptible to this type of damage.
4. Infection. I list it because it technically is a risk, but I've never heard of any infectious outbreak in the US being traced to an acupuncture clinic. In fact, the only case I'm aware of comes from Canada in the 1980's and was due to needle re-use. Modern clinics utilize single-use factory sterilized needles which are used one time on one patient and then discarded in an appropriate container.
Your provider should explain all the potential risks prior to any treatment. Make sure you deal with any questions you may have up front. No one should be upset or put off by explaining risks and benefits and going over their clinic procedures for creating a safe, clean environment.
If you're seeing a chiropractor or a physical therapist who is offering "acupuncture-like" services, all bets are off.
