Is Acupuncture Safe?

Is acupuncture safe is a common concern for new patients.

Acupuncture is generally considered to be safe when performed by a registered practitioner, under the rules of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency .  Millions of people worldwide undergo acupuncture treatments each year with minimal adverse effects.

Like with any medical procedure their are associated risks, this typically includes minor bruising and tenderness around the needle site. Acupuncture when done incorrectly can cause infection or organ injury. This is why it is important to only recieve acupuncture from a qualified registered Acupuncturist adhereing to high safety standards.

At TLC Acupuncture Brisbane, we keep our clinics clean, follow sterilization procedures and regularly audit them. 

I’ve heard practitioners reuse needles.

TLC Acupuncture Brisbane maintains the highest level of hygiene standards. We only use high quality, single use, sterile needles which of disposed of safely after one use.

In some contries including China needles are considered medical instruments which are sterilized and reused. In Australia the standards are different and needles are used once and then disposed of in medical waste bins.

Research and Validation

Numerous studies have explored the safety and efficacy of acupuncture. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) recognize acupuncture as a safe effective treatment for various conditions, such as chronic pain, nausea and musculoskeletal disorders. Rigorous research continues to contribute to our understanding of acupuncture’s safety profile.