Physiology & Medicine Codexery

Acupuncture

Alternative medicine involving needle insertion, lacking scientific evidence of efficacy.

Acupuncture

Acuhealth · CC BY-SA 3.0

Scientific investigation has not found evidence for traditional concepts such as qi, meridians, or acupuncture points.[1] As a component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is an alternative medical practice characterized by the insertion of fine needles into the skin.[2] Systematic reviews and clinical trials generally fail to demonstrate robust evidence that acupuncture provides therapeutic benefits, indicating it is not an efficacious healthcare intervention.[3]

Quick Facts

Meshid
D015670

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

The first documentation of an organized system of diagnosis and treatment for acupuncture was in that text from about 100 BC.[4] Gold and silver needles found in the tomb of Liu Sheng from around 100 BC are believed to be the earliest archaeological evidence of acupuncture.[4] The origins of acupuncture are thought to date to approximately 100 BC in China, coinciding with the publication of The Inner Classic of Huang Di.[1] Within China, acupuncture's popularity has varied over time, influenced by shifts in political leadership and a growing preference for treatments grounded in scientific evidence.[1]

Following the Song dynasty's conclusion in 1279 AD, acupuncture's standing in China had significantly diminished.[5] A decree issued by the Chinese Emperor in 1822 formally removed acupuncture from the Imperial Medical Institute's sanctioned practices.[6] The dissemination of acupuncture into Europe commenced during the latter part of the 17th century.[7] Projections from 2021 anticipated that the market's size would expand to US$55 billion by the year 2023.[8]

What the research sources say

A 2013 systematic review of English-language case reports found 294 adverse events between 2000 and 2011, with the majority being relatively minor.[9] A 2010 systematic review of Chinese-language literature found 479 adverse events between 1980 and 2009, including pneumothorax, fainting, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and infection.[10] The National Cancer Institute states that a 2015 Cochrane systematic review concluded there is insufficient evidence to judge whether acupuncture is effective in treating cancer pain in adults.[11] The NCCIH reports that in many studies, the benefit of acupuncture has been greater when compared with no treatment than when compared with sham acupuncture procedures.[12]

According to a 2013 review, 295 infection cases were identified, with mycobacterium being the causative pathogen in a minimum of 96% of those instances.[13]

Gallery

Acupuncture
Caj Bremer / Helsingin Sanomat · Public domain
Acupuncture
Kyle Hunter (= original uploader Kphunter at en.wikipedia ) · Public domain
Acupuncture
Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Acupuncture
Rob Swystun from Winnipeg, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Acupuncture
Lars Plougmann from United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Acupuncture
Acuhealth · CC BY-SA 3.0

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Electrical properties of acupuncture points and meridians: a systematic review", Bioelectromagnetics, May 2008, p. 245–56; de las Peñas, "Tension-type and cervicogenic headache: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management", Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010, p. 251–54; Mann, "Reinventing Acupuncture: A New Concept of Ancient Medicine", Elsevier, 2000; Williams, "Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: From Alien Abductions to Zone Therapy", Routledge, 2013, p. 3–4; "A brief history of acupuncture", Rheumatology, May 2004, p. 662–63; "Acupuncture – a c en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Acupuncture for chronic low back pain", The New England Journal of Medicine, July 2010, p. 454–61; "The safety of pediatric acupuncture: a systematic review", Pediatrics, December 2011, p. e1575–87; "Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century", Springer, 2014, p. 19–57; "Advances in Nature of Science Research: Concepts and Methodologies", Springer, 2012, p. 103; Barrett, "Be Wary of Acupuncture, Qigong, and "Chinese Medicine"", Quackwatch, 30 December 2007 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Use of Acupuncture for Adult Health Conditions, 2013 to 2021: A Systematic Review", JAMA Netw Open, November 2022, p. e2243665; "Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture", Science-Based Medicine, 14 December 2022; "Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, p. 1–15; "Acupuncture – for health professionals (PDQ)", National Cancer Institute, 23 September 2005; "The safety of pediatric acupuncture: a systematic review", Pediatrics, Decemb en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "A brief history of acupuncture", Rheumatology, May 2004, p. 662–63; "A true history of acupuncture", Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 2004, p. 269–73; Prioreschi, "A history of Medicine, Volume 2", Horatius Press, 2004, p. 147–48; "A brief history of acupuncture", Rheumatology, May 2004, p. 662–63 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Barnes, "Needles, Herbs, Gods, and Ghosts: China, Healing, and the West to 1848", Harvard University Press, 2005; Barnes, "Needles, Herbs, Gods, and Ghosts: China, Healing, and the West to 1848", Harvard University Press, 2005; "A brief history of acupuncture", Rheumatology, May 2004, p. 662–63; Lu, "Celestial Lancets: A History and Rationale of Acupuncture and Moxa", Psychology Press, 2002; Barnes, "Needles, Herbs, Gods, and Ghosts: China, Healing, and the West to 1848", Harvard University Press, 2005 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "A brief history of acupuncture", Rheumatology, May 2004, p. 662–63; Barnes, "Needles, Herbs, Gods, and Ghosts: China, Healing, and the West to 1848", Harvard University Press, 2005; Barnes, "Needles, Herbs, Gods, and Ghosts: China, Healing, and the West to 1848", Harvard University Press, 2005 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Lu, "Celestial Lancets: A History and Rationale of Acupuncture and Moxa", Psychology Press, 2002 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Acupuncture Market Share, Size Global Industry Revenue, Business Growth, Demand and Applications Market Research Report to 2023", MarketWatch (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, p. 1–15; "Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, p. 1–15; "Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, p. 1–15; "Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2 en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature", Bulletin of the World Health Organization, December 2010, p. 915–21C; "Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature", Bulletin of the World Health Organization, December 2010, p. 915–21C; "Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literature", Bulletin of the World Health Organization, December 2010, p. 915–21C; "Acupuncture-related adverse events: a systematic review of the Chinese literatur en.wikipedia.org
  11. "Acupuncture – for health professionals (PDQ)", National Cancer Institute, 23 September 2005. facts only, no text reused. cancer.gov
  12. "Acupuncture for Pain", NCCIH, January 2008. facts only, no text reused. nccih.nih.gov
  13. Wikipedia, "Acupuncture" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Atypical mycobacterias associated to acupuncuture: an integrative review", Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, February 2013, p. 450–58; "Atypical mycobacterias associated to acupuncuture: an integrative review", Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, February 2013, p. 450–58; "Atypical mycobacterias associated to acupuncuture: an integrative review", Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, February 2013, p. 450–58; "Atypical mycobacterias associated to acupuncuture: an integrative review", Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, Febr en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Acupuncture (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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