Talk:Acupuncture/sandbox
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Acupuncture (from Latin, 'acus' (needle) + 'punctura' (to puncture)[1]) is a form of alternative medicine[2] and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)[3] involving inserting thin needles into the body at acupuncture points.[4] It can be associated with the application of heat, pressure, or laser light to these same points.[4] Acupuncture is commonly used for pain relief,[5][6] though it is also used for a wide range of other conditions.[3] Clinical practice varies depending on the country.[7] There is a diverse range of acupuncture approaches, involving different philosophies.[8] The method used in TCM seems to be the most widely adopted in the US.[2] It is rarely used alone but rather as an adjunct to other forms of treatment.[9] TCM theory and practice are not based upon scientific knowledge,[10] and acupuncture is has been described as a type of pseudoscience.[11][12]
Acupuncture/sandbox | |
---|---|
ICD-10-PCS | 8E0H30Z |
ICD-9 | 99.91-99.92 |
MeSH | D015670 |
OPS-301 code | 8-975.2 |
The conclusions of many trials and numerous systematic reviews of acupuncture are largely inconsistent with each other.[13] An overview of Cochrane reviews found that acupuncture is not effective for a wide range of conditions, and they suggest it may be effective for only chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, postoperative nausea/vomiting, and idiopathic headache.[13] An overview of high-quality Cochrane reviews suggests that acupuncture may alleviate certain kinds of pain.[14] A systematic review of systematic reviews found that for reducing pain, real acupuncture was no better than sham acupuncture and concluded that there is little evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment for reducing pain.[n 1][5] The evidence suggests that short-term treatment with acupuncture does not produce long-term benefits.[16] Some research results suggest acupuncture can alleviate pain, though the majority of research suggests that acupuncture's effects are mainly due to placebo.[7] A systematic review concluded that the analgesic effect of acupuncture seemed to lack clinical relevance and could not be clearly distinguished from bias.[17]
Acupuncture is generally safe when done by an appropriately trained practitioner using clean needle technique and single-use needles.[18][19] When properly delivered, it has a low rate of mostly minor adverse effects.[4][18] Accidents and infections are associated with infractions of sterile technique or neglect of the practitioner.[19] A review stated that the reports of infection transmission increased significantly in the prior decade.[20] The most frequently reported adverse events were pneumothorax and infections.[5] Since serious adverse events continue to be reported, it is recommended that acupuncturists be trained sufficiently to reduce the risk.[5] A meta-analysis found that acupuncture for chronic low back pain was cost-effective as an adjunct to standard care,[21] while a systematic review found insufficient evidence for the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic low back pain.[22]
Scientific investigation has not found any histological or physiological evidence for traditional Chinese concepts such as qi, meridians, and acupuncture points,[n 2][26] and many modern practitioners no longer support the existence of life force energy (qi) flowing through meridians, which was a major part of early belief systems.[8][27][28] Acupuncture is believed to have originated around 100 BC in China, around the time The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (Huangdi Neijing) was published,[29] though some experts suggest it could have been practiced earlier.[7] Over time, conflicting claims and belief systems emerged about the effect of lunar, celestial and earthly cycles, yin and yang energies, and a body's "rhythm" on the effectiveness of treatment.[30] Acupuncture grew and diminished in popularity in China repeatedly, depending on the country's political leadership and the favor of rationalism or Western medicine.[29] Acupuncture spread first to Korea in the 500s AD, then to Japan through medical missionaries,[31] and then to Europe, starting with France.[29] In the 1900s as it spread to the United States and Western countries, the spiritual elements of acupuncture that conflict with Western beliefs were abandoned in favor of tapping needles into nerves.[29][32][33]