How Safe Are Acupuncture Needles?
Barry Friedmann
With so many different diseases in the world today, especially some that are caused by needles that are not clean, the safety of acupuncture needles is of concern to many people. Fortunately for those in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has very strict regulations on using acupuncture needles, such as requiring that they be sterile and that they can be used only once. Of course, in spite of these safety mechanisms that are there, many people will still be unsure at the thought of using a needle, including an acupuncture needle. Many of these fears can be allayed by ensuring that an experienced chiropractor is chosen to provide treatment.
Besides ensuring that sterile needles are used, some patients may fear pain from acupuncture needles. There are various types of acupuncture needles available for use, even painless ones. Painless needles help to ease the stress level of patients, helping the acupuncturist to avoid the possibility of an automatic reflex from the patient when inserting the needles. Painless acupuncture needles help patients to experience more comfort during the procedure, creating a lower stress level, which in turn, allows the procedure to work more effectively.
The success achieved with any procedure is improved by the patient's ability to relax. It is hard for a patient to relax during a painful procedure, so therefore may not achieve the same level of success as when a painless needle is used. This will certainly differ from patient to patient, but when the patient already fears needles, the practitioner will not help anyone by inflicting pain that is avoidable. The pain of the acupuncture needles should be less than the pain from which the patient seeks relief, so people will consider it worth the effort; others are not keen to seek relief from pain by enduring other pain.
When searching for an acupuncture practitioner, and you experience a problem with painful needles, one can ask to use painless needles. Depending on the practitioner, they may not have them in stock but should be happy to order them for you. Alternatively, you may choose a practitioner who only uses painless acupuncture needles to assure the comfort of his patients. Acupuncture used to be a procedure that patients expected to be painful, the use of new technology reduces or eliminates pain.
Some people fear infection from unclean needles, in addition to the pain from the acupuncture needles. Visiting the practitioner before treatment will help a patient to ease their fears and show that the practitioner has a clean office and invests in sanitary, disposable acupuncture needles. Displaying concerns for the safety and well-being of patients helps to ease fears and tension from patients being treated. Without the fear or tension, patients respond better to treatment.
Concerned About the Saety of Acupuncture Needles?
In the USA the Food and Drug Administration enforces a policy that needles used for acupuncture have to be sterile and are to be used once only. Federal law restricts distributors from selling needles to unqualified practitioners. Because of the variety of diseases lurking around, it is of concern to many people that there may be a risk involved in allowing a practitioner to use needles on them. It is best to select an experienced and recommended acupuncturist, which will help to avoid the anxiety and fears of undergoing treatment.
Besides experienced practitioners using sterile needles there is the added bonus of using painless needles. This is beneficial to those who are scared of needles and who would automatically jerk when any needle is inserted. The benefits of using painless needles would be immeasurable to the patient, making the whole experience relaxing, comfortable and stress free, therefore the treatment would be more beneficial.
If the patient is terrified of needles and is distressed because of this or suffering pain during the procedure he/she is unable to relax, muscles will be taut and this could be a complication to the success of the treatment. When the patient is able to relax comfortably, the outcome of the procedure using the painless acupuncture needles are inserted, it will definitely be a success. The success level of any procedure is enhanced by the patient's ability to relax.
The endurance of painful acupuncture needles does not allow the relaxation of the patient, and therefore may not afford the same level of success as a painless needle. Certainly this differs from patient to patient, but when you have someone who already fears needles, you are not going to help him or her by inflicting pain that is avoidable.
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