ÆßÃõ¼º½

+AA

Acupuncture: Potential uses, risks and side effects

In this 4-minute video, Enoch Ho discusses what conditions acupuncture is thought to work for, the potential risks, and other considerations when undergoing acupuncture treatment.

 

 

What's the bottom line?

  • In North America, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat chronic pain.
  • There are a number of conditions and symptoms that acupuncture has been said to help with, including anxiety and depression, insomnia, menstrual cramps, migraines, multiple sclerosis and cancer treatment. However, larger-scale trials are required to confirm the benefits.
  • The risks of acupuncture are low when performed by a certified acupuncturist using single-use disposable needles.
  • Infection is the number one adverse event.
  • Other common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles are inserted.
  • Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture. Complications may occur for those with bleeding disorders or on blood thinners, those with pacemakers or pregnant women.

Learn more about acupuncture, how it is thought to work and its use as a treatment for chronic pain by watching the full-length video.

Give us your feedback with this .

ÆßÃõ¼º½ all video posts.

Featured Resources

Get the latest content first. Sign up for free weekly email alerts.
Subscribe
Being one with nature: The effects of forest therapy
Fact or fiction: The impact of vitamin D on 3 common diseases
Finding success with non-drug strategies: 3 common diseases and conditions that can benefit
Author Details
Author Details

References

  1. ÆßÃõ¼º½ Optimal Aging Portal. Painful knees? What about acupuncture? (2019 May 28). Accessed April 6, 2022. Available from: /blog/detail/blog/2019/05/28/painful-knees-what-about-acupuncture
  2. Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. Pain. 2018; 19(5):455-474.
  3. Lin X, Huang K, Zhu G, et al. The effects of acupuncture on chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016; 98(18):1578-1586.
  4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Acupuncture: In Depth. (2016 Jan). Accessed April 6, 2022. Available from: 
  5. Patil S, Sen S, Bral M, Reddy S, Bradley KK, Cornett EM, Fox CJ, Kaye AD. The Role of Acupuncture in Pain Management. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016 Apr;20(4):22.
  6. Manheimer E, Cheng K, Linde K, Lao L, Yoo J, Wieland S, van der Windt DA, Berman BM, Bouter LM. Acupuncture for peripheral joint osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD001977.
  7. Corbett MS, Rice SJ, Madurasinghe V, et al. Acupuncture and other physical treatments for the relief of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee: Network meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013;21(9):1290–1298.
  8. Chen N, Wang J, Mucelli A, et al. Electro-acupuncture is beneficial for knee osteoarthritis: the evidence from meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Chin Med. 2017;45(5):965–985.
  9. Woods B, Manca A, Weatherly H, et al. Cost-effectiveness of adjunct non-pharmacological interventions for osteoarthritis of the knee. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0172749.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported through the ÆßÃõ¼º½ Institute for Research on Aging and funds provided by the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at ÆßÃõ¼º½.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the ÆßÃõ¼º½ Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their .

Want the latest in aging research? Sign up for our email alerts.
Subscribe

Our Content

About

Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. .

© 2012 - 2020 ÆßÃõ¼º½ | 1280 Main Street West | Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L8 | +1 905-525-9140 | Terms Of Use