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The benefits of acupuncture to the human body have been understood and supported in Eastern medicinal practices for centuries. With the amount of negative press in the popular media and criticism regarding this procedure, many find themselves skeptical of the treatment. For many people, what can be expected from acupuncture, including its side effects and limits remains unknown.

However, the procedures of Chinese acupuncture are well refined, having been practiced for many years, and even today, the practice is found to be a safe procedure and has been proven to provide some people with relief to symptoms of disorders that they have been saddled with for years. Here is a basic look at what you can expect from the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits:

Acupuncture begins by using sterile needles, which are made almost exclusively of stainless steel today. Ethylene Oxide is used to sterilize the needles, which can be used on the needles without causing construction damage. The acupuncturist can get a secure grip on the needles when placing them on a patient’s body because they are coated with a wire.

While referencing a model of acupuncturing that usually includes a reference of the human body and the insertion locations of needles in the skin based on the type of treatment, the acupuncturist will begin to puncture the person’s skin. A cluster of a few dozen needles in one or two places on the body may be required for a particular type of treatment. A fully body treatment, which may involve the placement of hundreds of needles, may also be requested.

Some treatments in acupuncture require the heating of the needles once placed in the skin through a process called moxibustion. The acupuncturist will utilize a burning of herbs to heat the needles that are placed in the skin. Most often, the herbs are placed on the end of the needle protruding from the patient and burned once the needle is inserted. The heat helps provide some therapy to the tissue that the needle is in contact with inside of the body.

From the nature of this procedure, acupuncture is classified as an invasive treatment with some risks. About 3 out of 100 people experience the most common risk - minor bleeding from the site of the procedure. Often, the bleeding will stop within one minute of removing the needle from the skin, but this differs between patients.

The treatment does include other less common risks, such as hematoma, where bruises appear below the skin at the site of treatment, dizziness due to fear of needles or anxiety, and extremely rare instances of nerve injury, brain damage, lung and kidney damage resulting from incorrectly placed needles, as well as a slight chance of miscarriage with very specific treatment.

Acupuncture does benefit the body in many ways despite the risks. Common tension headaches, tension in lower back pains, nausea, vomiting, and some lower symptomatic forms of fibromyalgia can all be relieved using acupuncture. Acupuncture emerges as a reputable and reliable treatment option when considering both the understood and perceived benefits, such as stress and tension relief. As a patient, you can benefit greatly by understanding the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits involved.