Two specific contraindications deserve special mention: patients with an AICD should avoid any electromagnetic stimulation that might be used as a form of acupuncture. Also, it is not recommended that patients that suffer or are predisposed to suffer from psychosis or delusions undergo acupuncture as well.
The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal.
Clients should avoid strenuous exercise, caffeine, junk food, alcohol, cold temperatures, digital screens, and, where possible, stressful situations. What's more, if clients leave their appointment feeling lightheaded or dizzy, they should avoid driving until they feel better.
Possible risks of acupuncture are the following: Bleeding, bruising, and soreness may occur at the insertion sites. Unsterilized needles may lead to infection. In rare cases, a needle may break and damage an internal organ.
Although there is no consensus on the full spectrum of forbidden points,3 those most frequently cited as contraindicated throughout pregnancy (at least before 37 weeks) are SP6, LI4, BL60, BL67, GB21, LU7, and points in the lower abdomen (eg, CV3–CV7) and sacral region (eg, BL27–34).
One recurring theme of skeptics is that the concept of acupuncture points has no scientific validity. Despite remarkable recent progress in basic and clinical research, the subject of whether-or-not acupuncture points “exist” remains largely avoided within the acupuncture research community.
The intense heat from Sauna and bath is considered an extra stimulation that may undo the energy reset.
Most practitioners agree that acupuncture should not be utilized in the following situations "active infection, especially cutaneous, malignancy, as there might be a threat of the spread of neoplastic cells; and severe neutropenia secondary to the risk of infection".
Your body can easily become dehydrated after an acupuncture treatment so you need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. And avoid caffeine and alcohol. You need to avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol because they will dehydrate you even more.
If you were in the acupuncture clinic for acute pain or sports injury, you may notice the pain relief almost instantly from the first treatment. For chronic pain, it may take up to 2 or 3 sessions to notice the pain subside.
Vasovagal reflex responses associated with acupuncture therapy are relatively uncommon adverse events, occurring in ∼0.02%–7% of treatments. A wide range of symptoms can manifest, including presyncopal symptoms of dizziness, nausea, sweating, pale skin, bradycardia, and, in more severe cases, syncope or convulsions.
Feeling Worse Before Feeling Better
Though acupuncture promotes healing and relief, sometimes the patients body feels worse before it feels better. The body may need to expel pathogens in order to heal. In addition, you may suddenly be more sensitive to a previous ailment that had been lying dormant.
You may not get the full benefits of acupuncture on the first or second treatment. If you decide to try acupuncture, you should give it at least five treatments.
Hence, acupuncture may require numerous sessions for you to see results. Usually, one can notice acupuncture's effects in around 3-4 days. However, this process is different for each person; therefore, the number of sessions and time required to see results can differ.
Acupuncture clients should stick to healthy foods, ideally those rich in antioxidants, after a session in order to promote the elimination of toxins from the body. Avoid anything overly processed, fried, refined sugars, caffeine, and alcohol.
Initially, the benefits of acupuncture can last a few days to a couple of weeks after each session. Over time acupuncture can provide longer-lasting, or even permanent, relief from pain, inflammation and other problems.
After your session, you may feel tired for up to 3 days. During this time, your body is cleansing and eliminating the toxins and poisonous waste that builds up in the blood stream. Fatigue is part of the normal healing process, and can be a positive sign that acupuncture is working.
Sometimes following acupuncture, some feel worse before they start feeling better. People can feel tired after acupuncture. A more common result is increased energy. The fatigue after acupuncture is your body telling you that it's depleted.
Some report changes in bowel movements. This is all very normal as acupuncture can stimulate metabolism, help eliminate toxins, and bring the body back to a state of equilibrium.
The detoxing effects of Acupuncture can last for around 3 days. During this time the body is cleansing and removing toxins and waste build-up from the body. Because of this, clients may report fatigue and discomfort. However, others can report feeling revitalised.
The lungs and spleen are also critical areas for weight-loss acupuncture, but the most important and unexpected sensitivity point for weight loss is actually the ear.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways or meridians. These pathways create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced "chee") through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow can cause disease.
Acupuncture is a type of complementary treatment that some people use to lose weight. Research suggests that acupuncture can help to reduce BMI and body weight. It does this by reversing mechanisms that link to appetite and energy metabolism.