Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2000; 5: 107
To determine the type, severity, and incidence of adverse events in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.
Prospective surveys in Tsukuba College of Technology Clinic in Japan. (A) Eighty-four acupuncturists were required to report the cases of adverse events immediately upon recognition. (B) Seven acupuncturists recorded adverse reactions based on observation and interview.
(A) A total of 65 482 treatment sessions were undertaken during 6 years. Reported events included failure to remove needles (27 cases), ecchymosis or haematoma (17), burn injury (7), discomfort or dizziness (13), nausea or vomiting (6). (B) A total of 30 338 needle insertions in 1441 sessions were undertaken during 4 months. Recorded systemic reactions included malaise (8.2% of individual patients), drowsiness (2.8%), aggravation of symptoms (2.8%), itching in the punctured regions (1.0%), dizziness or vertigo (0.8%), feeling of faintness or nausea during treatment (0.8%). Local reactions included minor bleeding (2.6% of needle insertions), pain on insertion (0.7%), petechia or ecchymosis (0.3%), pain or ache in the punctured region (0.1%), subcutaneous haematoma (0.1%).
There were two categories of adverse events: therapists’ negligence and patients’ reaction. Patients’ reaction can be further classified into two: systemic and local reactions. Although some reactions were common even in standard practice, they were transient and mild.
