Is it safe?

 

As a minimally invasive technique, acupuncture is considered very safe. The NIH Consensus Statement of 1997 states, "one of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted procedures for the same conditions."  

 

A 2004 study (Birch, et al) which summarized conclusions from several major reviews, determined that general agreement exists internationally that acupuncture is comparatively safe when administered by trained professionals in the field of acupuncture.  (Birch, S, Hesselink, JK, Jonkman, FA, Hekker, TA and Bos, A. Clinical research on acupuncture. Part 1. What have reviews of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture told us so far? J Altern Complement Med, 2004, 10 (3): 468-480.)