Acupuncture
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Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin.
According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. However, scientific research has not found any histological or physiological correlates for qi, meridians and acupuncture points,and some contemporary practitioners needle the body without using the traditional theoretical framework.
Current scientific research supports acupuncture's efficacy in the relief of certain types of pain and post-operative nausea.Other reviews have concluded that positive results reported for acupuncture are too small to be of clinical relevance and may be the result of inadequate experimental blinding,or can be explained by placebo effects and publication bias.Other researchers have pointed out the difficulty in designing an adequate scientific control for any placebo effect acupuncture might have due to its invasiveness.
There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needlesbut does carry small but serious risks and adverse effects including death.
