Acupuncture is a form of treatment that has been around for over a thousand years, and is a very safe form of treatment when practiced by trained professionals. There are cases where side effects have been reported (see below). It is important to inform the practitioner of any changes to your medical history such as medications or surgeries you may have received.
In particular:
Diabetes
Pregnancy
Steroid Use
Hepatitis /HIV
Warfarin -other blood thinning agents
Common Adverse Effects:(Between 6 and 15% of people may experience these side effects)
Fainting Nausea Vomiting during treatment
Increased pain
Diarrhea
Skin irritation, bruising bleeding
Needle site bleeding
Headaches
Sweating
Dizziness
Aggravation of symptoms
Rare More Serious Effects: (These are rare but cases have occurred)
Pneumothorax
Spinal Cord Injury
Hepatitis B
Septicemia
Punctured Organs
Convulsions
Argyria (localized staining of the skin)
What does this mean for me?
1) You should be aware of the risks and benefits of treatment and give consent before any treatment ensues.
2) You should contact the clinic if you have any concerns after a treatment and be aware of the potential symptoms:
If you experience numbness around the anus associated with an inability to go to the toilet you should seek medical attention.
Contact the clinic on 0113 2867562 or out of hours use the Contact Form.
Source: White A, Hayhoe S, Hart A, Ernst E. Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists. BMJ 2001;323:485-6. MacPherson H, Thomas K, Walters S, Fitter M. The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ 2001;323:486-7