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Acupuncture has been steadily gaining status as a safe and effective alternative treatment for a great many different ailments.  Much research has gone into this aspect of Eastern medicine, and it has been accepted in the Western world as something much more than some mysterious, arcane practice to be largely ignored by modern medical professionals.

However, as any qualified medical professional will attest, there is no known treatment that is completely risk-free, and acupuncture is no exception.  A recent study by the National Patient Safety Agency found 34 cases in the last eight years where acupuncture treatments had resulted in ‘moderate to severe harm’ to the patient, specifically dizziness and temporary loss of consciousness, or fainting.

The report included five cases in which the patient suffered a collapsed lung, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath but no permanent injury.  The incidents were reportedly the result of a needle inserted too deeply, something that presumably would happen only if the practitioner had been careless and/or inadequately trained.

NHS has approved acupuncture treatments for some conditions, based on research that has shown the efficacy of such treatment, in cases of knee pain, for instance, but funding is ultimately decided by local NHS managers.  The NPSA has issued a warning to organisations in the NHS that employ acupuncturists as part of their medical force, stating that they should follow certain specific guidelines, as most problems reported were the result of a ‘lack of clarity’ about emergency procedures.

Acupuncture treatments should be carried out only in offices where emergency treatment is immediately available if needed, and only by properly qualified and experienced personnel.  There is general agreement that acupuncture is an extremely low-risk treatment when practiced by a well trained professional.