Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Acupuncture needles are much thinner than those used for injections and are not hollow, so most people feel only a slight prick when they go in. Afterward there may be a sensation of heaviness, tingling or warmth around the point, which the tradition calls deqi. If you feel sharp pain, burning or discomfort that does not go away, say so right away so the practitioner can adjust or remove the needle.

When performed by a well-trained professional with sterile single-use needles, acupuncture is considered a low-risk technique. The most common adverse effects are mild, such as small bruises, local pain or a feeling of dizziness. Serious complications, such as infections or a punctured lung, are rare and are mainly associated with a lack of training or hygiene. That is why choosing the right practitioner is so important.

The situation is complex, and there is no specific official qualification in traditional Chinese medicine comparable to the regulated health professions. Some people who practice it are doctors, physical therapists or nurses with additional training, and others are not health professionals. The sensible thing is to ask about their training, check whether they are registered in a health profession and remember that Chinese medicine does not replace an evaluation by your doctor.

There is no fixed number. It depends on the reason for the visit, how long the problem has been present and each person's response. It is common to plan an initial series of several sessions and then reassess. Be wary of anyone who promises guaranteed results or requires you to pay in advance for a large number of sessions. If you notice no change after several sessions, it is a good idea to reconsider the approach with your doctor.

In many cases, techniques such as acupuncture, tai chi or qigong can be practiced alongside medical treatment, always as a complement. Tell your doctor what you are doing and tell the practitioner about your diagnoses and medications. Medicinal herbs call for more caution, because they can interact with drugs. Never stop or change a prescribed treatment without first consulting your doctor.

Some pregnant people receive acupuncture, but it requires specific precautions. The tradition advises against stimulating certain points during pregnancy, such as Hegu (LI4) or Sanyinjiao (SP6), and many Chinese herbs are contraindicated. Always consult your midwife or OB-GYN before starting and see a practitioner with experience in pregnancy. If any warning sign appears, obstetric care is the priority.

In the Chinese tradition there is a specific pediatric massage, pediatric tuina, which is a gentle technique. Acupuncture with needles is less common in children and requires experience. Medicinal herbs call for special caution because of the risk of inappropriate doses, contaminants or interactions. In any case, a sick child should first be evaluated by their pediatrician, and Chinese medicine should never delay that visit.

No. Something being natural does not mean it is safe. Some plants contain toxic substances, such as aristolochic acid, associated with serious kidney damage, or ephedra, whose supplements were banned by the US FDA in 2004. In addition, there can be contamination, adulteration and interactions with medications. Buy only products from reliable sources and always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking them.

It depends a great deal on the technique and the health problem. For some uses, such as certain types of chronic pain or nausea, acupuncture has some evidence, although it is difficult to separate the specific effect from the placebo effect. For many other applications the evidence is limited or insufficient. The best-known success story is artemisinin, an antimalarial derived from a plant, which earned Tu Youyou the Nobel Prize in 2015.

It usually starts with a thorough interview about your symptoms, sleep, digestion, emotions and habits. The practitioner looks at your tongue, takes your pulse at both wrists and may palpate areas of your body. With that information they make a diagnosis based on traditional patterns and propose a treatment. A good practitioner will also ask about your medical diagnoses and medications.

Not exactly. Both use fine needles, but they start from different frameworks. Acupuncture is based on the traditional theory of meridians and points, although there are more Western approaches. Dry needling, practiced mainly by physical therapists, targets muscle trigger points according to anatomical criteria. In practice they partly overlap, and some clinical guidelines mention them together.

Cupping and gua sha usually leave reddish or purplish marks on the skin that disappear within a few days. They can cause local discomfort and, if not applied properly, burns in the case of fire cupping. They should not be used on damaged skin or in people with bleeding disorders or who take anticoagulants without consulting first. These are techniques whose effectiveness has been little studied.

Taking anticoagulants or having a bleeding disorder increases the risk of bruising and bleeding. It is not necessarily an absolute contraindication for acupuncture, but you should always tell the practitioner so they can assess your case and adapt the technique. Cupping, gua sha and many medicinal herbs require even more caution in this situation. Check first with the doctor who manages your treatment.

Qi is a central concept of Chinese medicine that is usually translated as vital energy and describes what animates and moves the body. It is a philosophical and traditional concept, not a measurable physical quantity. Its existence as a physical entity has not been demonstrated, nor has that of the meridians as distinct anatomical structures. Understanding it as a traditional explanatory framework helps put it in its proper context.

Ask about their specific training, how many years they studied and where. It is a good sign if they are a registered health professional, use sterile disposable needles, ask about your diagnoses and medications, and refer you to a doctor when they consider it necessary. Be wary of anyone who promises cures, advises against medical treatment, sells unlabeled products or pressures you to sign up for many sessions in advance.

See a doctor, or go to the emergency room if it is serious, for intense or sudden pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, unexplained weight loss, abnormal bleeding, weakness or loss of sensation on one side of the body, or any symptom that gets worse. Chinese medicine should not delay medical diagnosis. Once the problem has been evaluated, you can consider whether it makes sense to complement it.