The risks of acupuncture and Oriental medicine are out-weighed by the health benefits.

Risk Management

As in any medical procedure, there are risks involved. Generally, Oriental Medicine is safe, especially when practiced by a properly trained acupuncturist. Adopting and enforcing standards of training through licensure have proven to be effective measures of risk management and prevention.

Risk Factors Associated with AOM Techniques

The following are known risks and side effects of various techniques of acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Acupuncture

	•	de qi - a normal sensation of warmth, tightness, soreness, or tingling when the needle reaches the acupuncture point - common

	•	bruising and bleeding - needles can cause bruising or minor bleeding due to piercing of small blood vessels - occassional

	•	fainting or fatigue - temporary lowered blood pressure can cause fatigue, or even fainting immediately after a treatment - rare

	•	rashes - some people are allergic to metals in contact with their skin, even stainless steel needles - rare

	•	infection - improperly sterilzed needles or lack of hygenic procedure can cause infection - rare

	•	perforation of vital organs  - improporly inserted needles can preforate lungs or other organs - rare

Tapping, Plum Blossom, Bleeding, Pricking

	•	bruising and bleeding - these techniques, using multiple needles or purposely drawing a drop of blood, can rupture tiny blood vessels

Electrical Stimulation (PENS, TENS)

	•	tingling - electrical stimulation to acupuncure points can cause temporary tingling, or "pins and needles" feeling

	•	nerve damage - an improperly manufactured or used electrostimulator can cause nerve damage if the electricity is on too long or set too high

Herbs

	•	allergic reactions - herbs can cause food allergy reactions, including rash, hives, nausea, indigestion

	•	insomnia - some herbs contain compounds that act as stimulants, like caffeine

	•	drug interactions - some herbs have mild effects that can interact with drugs, to exaggerate or reduce their effects

Moxibustion

	•	blisters and burns - moxa is buring herbs, and can cause second degree burns if held too long close to the skin

Cupping and guasha

	•	bruising - cupping (suction) and guasha (scraping) draw blood close to the surface of the skin, where it can cause bruising that lasts for a few days

Oriental Massage/Acupressure

	•	soreness - TuiNa and other manual therapies often make muscles and tendons sore from direct pressure and stretching

	•	bruising - acupressure and Shaitsu can cause bruises for those who are prone to bruising

	•	nerve inflammation - pressure to any superficial nerve, such as the ulnar nerve ("funny bone") can inflame the nerve

Relative to the risk of radical interventions such as surgery and prescription drugs, Oriental Medicine is proving itself safe. For comparison, consider that malpractice insurance for acupuncturists costs 5% or less of what medical doctors pay, and that medications, even when taken in proper dosages, are estimated cause 106,000 fatalities in hospitals in the United States every year, often from "abnormal" physiological responses.