Acupuncture is Extremely Safe.
In the U.S., acupuncturists are required to complete a clean needle technique course and certification before licensure. This includes detailed instruction on the theories, concepts and application of clean needle technique, training and both a written and practical exam. Acupuncturist are well-trained generally, and especially in clean needle technique. In the U.S., it is illegal to use anything other than sterile, packaged, disposable needles that are carried away in the same biohazard containers used by hospitals.
Each needle comes in a sterile package, is only used once, then immediately is properly disposed of in the official biohazard container.
There are very few reports of any acupuncture related incidents and that is reflected in low malpractice insurance premiums for acupuncturists.
The low risk is also demonstrated in a survey reported by the British Medical Journal. See summaries below.
By contrast, bloodstream infections, introduced through the large intravenous catheters that deliver medication, nutrition, and fluids to
patients in intensive care, are a large cause of preventable death, disability, and expense in our nations hospitals. While there are severaltypes of hospital acquired infections, independent research from Consumer Reports recently focused on hospital acquired blood stream infections because they cause at least 30 percent of the 99,000 annual hospital-infection-related deaths in the U.S.
"Doctors and physiotherapists who performed acupuncture reported no serious adverse events and 671 minor adverse events per 10,000 acupuncture consultations."
White, A. Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32,000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ 2001; 323: 485-486.
"In this prospective survey, no adverse events were reported after 34,407 acupuncture treatments."
MacPherson, H. The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 2001; 323: 486-487.
Each needle comes in a sterile package, is only used once, then immediately is properly disposed of in the official biohazard container.
There are very few reports of any acupuncture related incidents and that is reflected in low malpractice insurance premiums for acupuncturists.
The low risk is also demonstrated in a survey reported by the British Medical Journal. See summaries below.
By contrast, bloodstream infections, introduced through the large intravenous catheters that deliver medication, nutrition, and fluids to
patients in intensive care, are a large cause of preventable death, disability, and expense in our nations hospitals. While there are severaltypes of hospital acquired infections, independent research from Consumer Reports recently focused on hospital acquired blood stream infections because they cause at least 30 percent of the 99,000 annual hospital-infection-related deaths in the U.S.
"Doctors and physiotherapists who performed acupuncture reported no serious adverse events and 671 minor adverse events per 10,000 acupuncture consultations."
White, A. Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32,000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ 2001; 323: 485-486.
"In this prospective survey, no adverse events were reported after 34,407 acupuncture treatments."
MacPherson, H. The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34,000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 2001; 323: 486-487.