Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture. Before having acupuncture treatment, be sure to tell the practitioner if you: Have a bleeding disorder. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles may be increased if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.
Despite its relative safety, acupuncture is not recommended for some people, including those with chronic infections and bleeding disorders. Talk with your doctor if you're interested in trying acupuncture to help you manage chronic pain or other conditions.
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.
If you have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia, or are taking any medicines such as anticoagulant medicine, talk to your GP or acupuncture practitioner before you have acupuncture. Acupuncture is also not usually advised if you have a metal allergy or an infection in the area where needles may be inserted.
So, what should clients not do before an acupuncture session? Your client should not consume heavy, spicy or fried meals, nor should they drink any caffeine or alcohol.
Infection. Infection, one of the most common acupuncture adverse effects, was reported in 19 studies (1.56%). All patients recovered after appropriate treatment. Infection is mainly due to unsterilized needles, repeated use of needles, or contact with clothing at the needlepoint.
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.
The research revealed that approximately 90 per cent of the benefits of acupuncture were sustained at 12 months, suggesting that underlying changes are occurring with acupuncture that has long-term health benefits and, in this instance, lasting pain relief.
People think acupuncture is painful.
Occasionally, one of the needles might hurt a little, but it can be removed or replaced with one that feels better. No acupuncturist wants their patient to feel discomfort, so tell your acupuncturist if a needle bothers you after the initial insertion.
As part of its anti-inflammatory action, acupuncture deforms connective tissue and upregulates the secretion of various molecules in acupoints, further activating the NF-κB, MAPK, and ERK pathways in mast cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and monocytes/macrophages.
People can feel tired after acupuncture. The fatigue after acupuncture is your body telling you that it's depleted. Feeling fatigued after acupuncture is not cause for concern, but it is a sign that you need to rest. Body parts where acupuncture needles get inserted can feel sore after needles are removed.
"Acupuncture stimulates the body's natural feel-good hormones and reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol," says Mathew Kulas, MA, RAc, an acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health. Studies show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for anxiety, with fewer side effects than medications.
Safer Than Medication
Acupuncture has a safety rating far surpassing many other medicinal methods. It is relatively non-invasive, extremely gentle, and side effects are minimal. However, those with bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners may experience a small amount of bleeding, soreness, or bruising.
You're more emotional
Acupuncture is like peeling an onion. Layer by layer, it exposes us until it gets to the core. Since acupuncture works by addressing the root cause of a condition, the process can cause repressed emotions to surface. You may be quicker to cry or notice yourself feeling more sentimental than usual.
Some short-term effects may indicate that the acupuncture sessions are working. One sign is you notice slight improvements in your symptoms. Curiously, the other is a worsening of symptoms. “It's actually not a bad sign if you feel worse after acupuncture,” Sheinberg says.
Chinese medicine believes that tongues reveal the state of an individual's energy distribution, organ health, and blood circulation. A healthy tongue should appear fresh with a light red or dark pink coloration. Overall, a purple or bluish one signifies a blood clotting or stagnation condition.
It's important that client's avoid unhealthy foods after their acupuncture appointment, as it may hinder their received benefits. This includes processed foods, fried foods, and refined sugar - if clients crave something sweet, antioxidant-rich fruits are a great option!
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.
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).
The intense heat from Sauna and bath is considered an extra stimulation that may undo the energy reset. However hot showers are okay after acupuncture.