Acupuncture Sterilization Methods

Abstract

Acupuncture is frequently used to treat chronic pain syndromes or other chronic diseases. There exist several hundred casuistic reports about partially life-threatening adverse effects. Aim of our study was to assess adverse effects of acupunture during a normal treatment routine. Acupuncture patients of 13 general practitioners and outpatient clinics and of 16 healers were observed. By questionnaires gender, age, indications, way of treatment and adverse effects were documented by the therapists. 409 patients with 3535 acupuncture treatment were included. 402 treatments (11, 37%, 153 different patients) with adverse effects were observed. Main side effects were small bleedings (2,9%), hematoma (2,2%), dizziness (1 %) and other vegetative symptoms (2,74%). Other mentioned side effects (below 1%) were fainting, nausea, prolonged De-Qi-effect (paresthesia) and increase of pain. One patient with an hour lasting aphasia after acupuncture treatment was reported. Assessing adverse effects by the therapists themselves contains a high risk of underestimation. A bias can be supposed regarding life threatening adverse effects like pneumothoraces. The other reported side effects however can be assumed not to have this bias. More than one third of acupuncture patients experience adverse effects while being treated with acupuncture. Most of them are harmless. Small bleedings and hematoma are common. No local infection was reported despite of several therapists, who used sterile needles without skin desinfection. Acupuncture is a safe method but has like any therapistic approach adverse effects.

Acupuncture Sterilization Methods

Introduction

Acupuncture is one of several therapy methods of the Traditional Chinese Medicine. In western medicine it is frequently used to treat chronic pain syndromes or other chronic diseases. It is claimed, that acupuncture has no adverse effects. Complementary therapy methods are recommended as natural and „natural" is often used as synonym for harmless or without adverse effects. In contradiction since the 70ies there exist several hundred casuistic reports about partially life-threatening adverse effects. However no attempt to quantify these complications was ever made. Systematic studies exist only in some attempts, incidences numbers are normally estimated.

The issue is complicated by a broad variability of acupuncture methods differing from country to country. In Japan the usage of permanent needling methods is more frequent than in Europe causing serious complications. Some adverse effects are typical for ear acupuncture (e.g. local infections) but not for body acupuncture. Some special effects are inherent with associated techniques like moxa-therapy (burning cone or sticks close to the skin or in contact with a acupuncture needle) causing burns.

Purpose of study

Aim of our study was to asses' adverse effects of acupunture during a normal treatment routine (normally 10 to 15 insertions of about 10 needles) in daily practice. In addition potential correlating factors were examined regarding their possible enhancing role.

Literature review

The first known writings on acupuncture were in the Nei Ching (also called The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine; a translation is available at bookstores in New York). This early textbook is believed to have been written between 2697 and 2596 B.C., but the elaborate system of therapy outlined in the ancient ...