The short answer
Yes, when it is done by a trained, licensed practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Large studies show that about 1 in 10 people has a mild, short-lived side effect such as a small bruise or brief soreness, and that serious problems are rare, around 1 in 10,000 people treated.[1] A few situations, such as pregnancy, blood thinners or cancer treatment, call for extra care.
What the research shows
Safety is one of the best-studied parts of acupuncture, because researchers can follow tens of thousands of treatments and record every problem.
What are the common side effects of acupuncture?
The evidence on the common side effects of acupuncture is well supported. A 2021 review pooled 21 prospective studies. At least one side effect occurred in about 9% of people having a course of acupuncture, and about half of all side effects were bleeding, pain or redness at the needle site.[1] In a UK survey of 34,407 treatments, mild bruising followed about 2 in 100 treatments and a temporary worsening of symptoms about 3 in 100, and most of those worsenings were followed by improvement.[2]
How rare are serious side effects?
The evidence that serious side effects are rare is well supported. The same review estimated about 1 serious adverse event per 10,000 people treated, and about 8 per million treatments.[1] The UK survey recorded no serious adverse events in 34,407 treatments.[2] Serious events reported in the medical literature include a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) from needling too deeply over the chest, nerve injury and infection, and reviews link them mainly to inadequate training and technique.[3]
Why do licensing and sterile needles matter?
The evidence that licensing and sterile needles keep acupuncture safe is well supported. The US Food and Drug Administration regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires them to be sterile and labelled for single use. Complications reported in the US have come from non-sterile needles and improper technique.[4] Most states, including Virginia, license acupuncturists.
What to expect
Before treatment we review your health history and medications and explain the benefits, risks and alternatives. During treatment, tell us if anything feels sharp or wrong. Afterwards, a point may be tender or bruised for a day or two, and some people feel tired or very relaxed.
How acupuncture fits with your other care
Acupuncture should never delay medical care you need. Some situations change how we work, so please tell us if you:
- Are pregnant or trying to conceive
- Take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
- Are having chemotherapy or radiation, or have low blood counts or a weakened immune system
- Have a pacemaker or other implanted device, since electroacupuncture (a gentle current through the needles) is avoided
- Have a skin infection, swelling or lymphedema in an area to be treated
When to see a doctor first
Seek medical care promptly if, after acupuncture, you have:
- Chest pain or shortness of breath, especially after needles on the chest or upper back
- A needle site that becomes hot, red, swollen or weeps
- Bleeding that will not stop, or bruising that keeps spreading
- Numbness, weakness or fainting that does not settle
How we keep acupuncture safe at Fingertips
Acupuncture is very safe in trained hands, and we take that seriously. Here is what we do at every visit.
Clean, single-use needles. Our practitioner is certified in Clean Needle Technique (CNT), the national standard for safe needling. Every needle is sterile, used once, and thrown away right after your treatment.
Care around the chest and major organs. We don’t place needles over the lungs or major organs unless your treatment truly needs it. This keeps rare but serious problems, such as a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), off the table.
Traditional, whole-body techniques. Your practitioner is trained in traditional Chinese medicine. We work mostly with the body’s channels and collaterals and with distal points, which are points on the arms, legs, hands and feet that affect areas elsewhere in the body. That lets us treat a problem without needling right at a sensitive spot.
The right depth for you. We take time to set the depth of each needle so it feels comfortable and still does its job. If anything feels wrong during your session, tell us and we’ll change it right away.
Steering clear of veins and tendons. We find each point carefully so we stay away from veins, blood vessels and tendons. That means less bruising, less soreness and a more comfortable treatment.
Common questions
What are the side effects of acupuncture?+
The most common are a small bruise, brief soreness or a drop of blood at a needle site, and feeling tired or very relaxed. A short flare of symptoms sometimes happens and usually settles.
Can you get an infection from acupuncture?+
It is rare. Infections reported in the medical literature are linked mainly to non-sterile needles or poor technique, which is why every needle is sterile and used only once.
Is acupuncture safe with a pacemaker?+
Ordinary acupuncture is generally used, but electroacupuncture is avoided. Tell us about any implanted device before treatment.
Who should not have acupuncture?+
Very few people need to avoid it altogether, but some need adjustments, including people who are pregnant, take blood thinners, have low blood counts during cancer treatment or have an implanted device. We review this with you before treatment.
References
- Bäumler, P., Zhang, W., Stübinger, T., & Irnich, D. (2021). Acupuncture-related adverse events: Systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies. BMJ Open, 11(9), e045961. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961
- MacPherson, H., Thomas, K., Walters, S., & Fitter, M. (2001). The York acupuncture safety study: Prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists. BMJ, 323(7311), 486–487. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7311.486
- Wu, J., Hu, Y., Zhu, Y., Yin, P., Litscher, G., & Xu, S. (2015). Systematic review of adverse effects: A further step towards modernization of acupuncture in China. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015, 432467. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/432467
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Acupuncture: What you need to know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know