At Acupuncture Vancouver, we know that many people are reluctant to try acupuncture because they are unfamiliar with the treatments, they may fear needles, or just generally have concerns about safety. In fact, acupuncture is a traditional form of Chinese medicine that has been practiced safely for centuries.
Major health organizations, including the World Health Organization, consider acupuncture to be a safe and effective treatment for many conditions. Indeed, compared to pharmaceutical interventions, acupuncture is usually associated with fewer side effects and less toxicity. But are there side effects or safety concerns you need to know about?
When compared to other medical interventions, acupuncture is generally a very safe procedure and there are minimal side effects experienced or reported. For example, acupuncture is an effective approach for managing chronic and acute pain. Other treatments for pain include pharmacological interventions such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, each presenting with significant and sometimes dangerous side effects. Because of the unintended side effects of common medical treatments, many people seek alternative approaches such as acupuncture. Given the low level of risk and the relatively few side effects associated with acupuncture, it is a common approach employed worldwide.
So then, are there safety concerns associated with acupuncture? Fortunately, at Acupuncture Vancouver, all treatments are performed but a highly-trained and licensed acupuncture practitioner. We are required to follow very strict guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of all our clients. Though acupuncture is technically an invasive procedure because needles are inserted into the skin, we are very careful to mitigate the risk of serious complications. Some of the risks associated with acupuncture include physical injury such as bleeding or bruising as well as exposure to infectious agents.
Our approach at Acupuncture Vancouver helps to significantly reduce or eliminate these risks. For example, our practitioners are exceptionally well-trained and competent. They understand body structures and know the locations of vital organs, nerves, and blood vessels so the risk of serious injury is low. Complications associated with inserting needles are rare, but we also offer other forms of acupuncture that are less invasive. Additionally, we take the health and safety of our staff and clients very seriously – all our equipment is sterilised and appropriately stored to eliminate the risk of transmission of infections. Acupuncture needles are single-use and disposed of according to health guidelines. Ultimately, our infection, prevention, and control procedures follow Health Canada guidelines very closely to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria.
So, when it comes to the question of “is acupuncture safe,” we can confidently report that Acupuncture Vancouver delivers safe and effective treatments because they are delivered by trained professionals who are regulated by The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. As such, we follow health and safety guidelines as dictated by federal and provincial health care regulators. Moreover, we strive to go above and beyond to ensure all our clients feel safe throughout their acupuncture treatments.