Acupuncture
Uses of acupuncture
Acupuncture practitioners sometimes called acupuncturists use acupuncture to treat a wide range of health conditions. However, the use of acupuncture isn't always based on rigorous scientific evidence.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelinesfor the NHS on the use of treatments and care of patients.
Currently, NICE only recommends considering acupuncture as a treatment option for:
- chronic tension-type headaches
- migraines
Acupuncture is also often used to treat other musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and muscles) and pain conditions, including:
- chronic pain, such as neck pain
- joint pain
- dental pain
- postoperative pain
However, in many conditions where acupuncture is used, there's less good quality evidence to draw any clear conclusions over its effectiveness compared with other treatments.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. Fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes.
How acupuncture works
Western medical acupunctureis the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles of the body. This resultsin the body produc
Uses of acupuncture
Acupuncture practitioners sometimes called acupuncturists use acupuncture to treat a wide range of health conditions. However, the use of acupuncture isn't always based on rigorous scientific evidence
Acupuncture on the NHS
Acupuncture is sometimes available on the NHS, most often from GPs or physiotherapists, although access is limited. Most acupuncture patients pay for private treatment. The cost of acupuncture varies
How acupuncture is performed
An initial acupuncture session usuallylasts 20-40 minutes and involves an assessment of your general health, medical history and a physical examination, followed by insertion of the acupuncture needle
Acupuncture safety and regulation
There's no statutory regulation of acupuncture in England, butmany non-medical acupuncture practitioners are required to register with their local authority. If you choose to have acupuncture, make su
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