Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that is increasingly being incorporated into Western medicine. At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our providers use complementary medicine techniques including acupuncture to help manage symptoms related to a variety of health conditions.

What is acupuncture? 

Acupuncture is a practice that dates back thousands of years. It’s long been part of Asian healing culture.

During an acupuncture session, your provider inserts thin needles into your skin to stimulate various points. These spots – called acupuncture points – correspond to different areas in your body. Sometimes, the spot where the needles go is far removed from the area being treated. For example, the provider may insert needles into a point on the back of your hand to treat headaches.

The provider may insert between five and 20 needles, depending on the treatment. Typically, the needles stay in for 10 to 20 minutes. During this time, the provider may manipulate the needles gently to better stimulate the acupuncture point.

Types of acupuncture 

Most acupuncture treatments used as part of Western medicine use methods similar to those in traditional Chinese medicine. The two most common acupuncture methods are: 

• Dry needling: Your provider inserts into specific acupuncture points. They may manually manipulate the points (such as by twirling the needles) to better target the point. 
• Electric stimulation: The provider may clip a cord to the needles that’s attached to a machine. This machine delivers very mild electrical pulses through the needle and into the acupuncture point.

Conditions treated with acupuncture

Research shows that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for pain. It’s often used to treat conditions that cause chronic pain, such as injuries to the low back or neck, arthritis or headaches. 

There’s also good evidence that acupuncture may help relieve symptoms related to cancer treatment – especially the pain, nausea and fatigue resulting from chemotherapy. In addition, the experience of receiving acupuncture can be very relaxing. Many people use acupuncture to help manage stress.

Some common conditions acupuncture helps treat include: 

• Back pain 
• Cancer treatment side effects 
• Fibromyalgia 
• Headaches
• Menstrual cramps 
• Nausea (related to chemotherapy or pregnancy) 
• Neck pain 
• Osteoarthritis

While research supports acupuncture as an effective treatment for some conditions, experts still don’t understand exactly how it works on the brain and body. Some studies suggest that believing and expecting that acupuncture will work can enhance its benefits.

Acupuncture side effects 

When done by a skilled provider, acupuncture is a safe treatment with few side effects or risks. That said, any type of treatment still carries some potential for unwanted effects.

The most common side effects you might experience are mild bleeding, bruising or soreness at spots where needles were inserted. Licensed acupuncturists must use sterile, single-use needles, so the risk of infection is very small.

Acupuncture is safe for most people, but certain populations should use caution. If you have a bleeding disorder, a pacemaker or are pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether acupuncture is appropriate.