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Acupuncture literally means needle piercing. It is the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific points.

Who is a candidate for the procedure?

When it is practiced by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is generally considered safe, even in children and pregnant women. However, unnecessary procedures should be avoided during pregnancy.

The most common use of acupuncture is to treat muscle and joint pain. The technique is often applied for arthritis, chronic back pain, sports injuries, and other similar problems.

Acupuncture can also be helpful for relieving dental pain and for relief of chronic headaches. A 2003 Cochrane review concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make any recommendations about acupuncture for acute low-back pain.

How is the procedure performed?

Every acupuncture treatment begins with a history and examinations.

To receive a treatment, the person lies down on a table. He or she needs to remove enough clothing for the acupuncturist to reach the key points on the body. Very fine, sterile, stainless steel needles are inserted into the skin at the relevant points. Because the needles are so thin, they do not usually cause any bleeding or pain.

Other techniques can also be used as part of the acupuncture treatment. These include:

• applying a small electric current to the needles
• small pen-like tools to produce an infrared low power laser beam
• applying burning herbs to the end of the needle, which is called moxibustion
• ultrasound

What happens right after the procedure?

A person may feel a pinprick sensation followed by a tingling or numbness when the needles are inserted. The amount of sensation will depend on the point being treated and the depth to which the needle is inserted. Needles can be inserted and removed in seconds. They can also be left in place for up to a half hour. The length of treatment depends on the type of illness that is involved. The person may have immediate pain relief. Other benefits usually take a couple of days to appear.

What happens later at home?

Some people feel no different after treatment. Others report feeling sleepy or a little "spaced out." It is important for the individual to pay attention to her or her reactions and allow time for the treatment to take effect.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

• Bleeding is very rare because the needles are very fine.
• It is common for a person to feel a little worse before feeling better.

• redness
• swelling
• heat
• tenderness