Acupuncture Contraindications: Difference between revisions

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'''Original Editor '''- [[User:Katherine Knight|Katherine Knight]]  
'''Original Editor '''- [[User:Katherine Knight|Katherine Knight]]  


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== Introduction  ==
== Introduction  ==


[[Image:Acupuncture.jpg|thumb|right]]It is essential that the practitioner follows a set of basic principles in order for acupuncture to be a safe treatment option. These include reducing the danger of infection transmission, maintaining adequate anatomical knowledge to enable safe needling, and receiving an orthoox medical diagnosis before beginning treatment<ref>Cummings M, Reid F. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8175256_Bmas_Policy_Statements_in_Some_Controversial_Areas_of_Acupuncture_Practice BMAS policy statements in some controversial areas of acupuncture practice]. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2004 Sep;22(3):134-6.</ref>. Past these fundamental guiding principles, specific topics and situations continue to cause regular disagreement between practitioners.  
[[Image:Acupuncture.jpg|thumb|right]][https://www.physio-pedia.com/Acupuncture Acupuncture] is a non-pharmacological, relatively safe and effective treatment option for a variety of symptoms and dysfunctions. <ref>National Institutes of Health Public Health Service US Department of Health and Human Services. Acupuncture: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532287/ Consensus Development Conference Report]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain & Symptom Control. 1998 Jan 1;6(4):67-90.</ref>   


The safe use of acupuncture is promoted by following contraindications for it's application. The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP)&nbsp;<ref>Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, www.aacp.org.uk, (accessed 18th July 2013)</ref>suggests that with regard to acupuncture contraindications should be thought of in two groups; 'absolute contraindications', where the use of acupuncture is forbidden and 'relative contraindications' where acupuncture can be used with careful consideration of the risk factors. The World Health Organisation Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture <ref>Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture, World Health Organisation, www.apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip56e/4.2.html, (accessed 18th July 2013)</ref>&nbsp;state that, "it is difficult to stipulate absolute contraindications for this form of therapy" However, they suggest that for reasons of safety, it should be avoided in pregnancy, medical and surgical emergencies, malignant tumours and bleeding disorders. The full World Health Organisation guideline can be viewed [http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip56e/4.2.html here].
It is essential that the practitioner follows a set of basic principles in order for acupuncture to be a safe treatment option. These include reducing the danger of [https://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php?title=Infection_Prevention_and_Control&veaction=edit&section=8 infection transmission], maintaining adequate anatomical knowledge to enable safe needling, and receiving an orthodox medical diagnosis before beginning treatment. Past these fundamental guiding principles, there are few strict contraindications to the use of acupuncture and specific topics and situations continue to cause regular disagreement between practitioners. <ref>Cummings M, Reid F. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8175256_Bmas_Policy_Statements_in_Some_Controversial_Areas_of_Acupuncture_Practice BMAS policy statements in some controversial areas of acupuncture practice]. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2004 Sep;22(3):134-6.</ref> 
 
Most practitioners agree that acupuncture should not be utilized in the following situations "active infection, especially cutaneous, [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Oncology#:~:text=Cancer%20describes%20the%20abnormal%20growth,which%20is%20known%20as%20metatstasis. malignancy], as there might be a threat of the spread of neoplastic cells; and severe neutropenia secondary to the risk of infection". <ref>Van Hal M, Green MS. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532287/ Acupuncture].
 
</ref>Otherwise, the decision-making authority rests with the practitioner. 
 
The safe use of acupuncture is promoted by following contraindications for it's application. The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP)&nbsp;<ref>Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, www.aacp.org.uk, (accessed 18th July 2013)</ref>suggests that with regard to acupuncture contraindications should be thought of in two groups: 
 
* Absolute contraindications: The use of acupuncture is forbidden.
* Relative contraindications: Acupuncture can be used with careful consideration of the risk factors.
 
The World Health Organisation Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture state that, "It is difficult to stipulate absolute contraindications for this form of therapy." However, they suggest that for reasons of safety, it should be avoided in pregnancy, medical and surgical emergencies, malignant tumors and bleeding disorders. <ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/66007/WHO_EDM_TRM_99.1.pdf&hl=en&sa=T&oi=gsb-ggp&ct=res&cd=0&d=12168935778572351301&ei=eYFVYs36HJmM6rQPjaOSEA&scisig=AAGBfm3Fl5M6TwBnhWmqZAQYBv1xbIMxFw Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture], World Health Organisation, www.apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip56e/4.2.html, (accessed 18th July 2013)</ref>


== Contraindications ==
== Contraindications ==
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=== Absolute Contraindications  ===
=== Absolute Contraindications  ===


They state that absolute contraindications to be:<br>
They state absolute contraindications to be:  


*The use of points LI 4; SP 6; UB 60, 67 and sacral foraminal points B 31, 32, 33, 34 during pregnancy.  
*The use of points LI 4; SP 6; UB 60, 67 and sacral foraminal points B 31, 32, 33, 34 during pregnancy.  
*The use of acupuncture with patient who have uncontrolled movements.  
*The use of acupuncture with patient who have uncontrolled movements.  
*The needling of and oedematous limb at risk of lymphoedma
*The needling of and oedematous limb at risk of [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Lymphoedema lymphoedema]
*Areas of spinal instability where as the result relaxation of the surrounding muscles could potentially give rise to spinal cord compression.  
*Areas of spinal instability where as the result relaxation of the surrounding muscles could potentially give rise to spinal cord compression.  
*The needling of scars, keloid, recent incisional wounds or skin with sensory deficit.  
*The needling of scars, keloid, recent incisional wounds or skin with sensory deficit.  
Line 29: Line 39:
And relative contraindications to include:  
And relative contraindications to include:  


*Acute stroke  
*Acute [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Stroke stroke]
*Patients with cancer  
*Patients with [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Oncology cancer]
*Areas of poor skin condition  
*Areas of poor skin condition  
*Diabetic patients  
*[https://www.physio-pedia.com/Diabetes Diabetic patients]
*Patients with epilepsy  
*Patients with [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Epilepsy epilepsy]
*Hemophilia or other clotting disorders&nbsp;<ref>Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, www.aacp.org.uk, (accessed 18th August 2013)</ref>
*Hemophilia or other clotting disorders&nbsp;<ref>Morar D, Tan D, Nielsen A, Anderson B, Chuang E, Connolly M, Gao Q, Gil EN, Lechuga C, Kim M, Naqvi H. [https://www.aacp.org.uk/ www. aacp. org. uk.]</ref>
 
 
=== Special Precautions ===
=== Special Precautions ===
* Bleeding tendency   
* Bleeding tendency   

Latest revision as of 16:26, 1 March 2023

Original Editor - Katherine Knight

Top Contributors - Katherine Knight, Shejza Mino, Admin, Chelsea Mclene, WikiSysop, Kim Jackson, Kalyani Yajnanarayan and Evan Thomas

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Acupuncture.jpg

Acupuncture is a non-pharmacological, relatively safe and effective treatment option for a variety of symptoms and dysfunctions. [1]

It is essential that the practitioner follows a set of basic principles in order for acupuncture to be a safe treatment option. These include reducing the danger of infection transmission, maintaining adequate anatomical knowledge to enable safe needling, and receiving an orthodox medical diagnosis before beginning treatment. Past these fundamental guiding principles, there are few strict contraindications to the use of acupuncture and specific topics and situations continue to cause regular disagreement between practitioners. [2]

Most practitioners agree that acupuncture should not be utilized in the following situations "active infection, especially cutaneous, malignancy, as there might be a threat of the spread of neoplastic cells; and severe neutropenia secondary to the risk of infection". [3]Otherwise, the decision-making authority rests with the practitioner.

The safe use of acupuncture is promoted by following contraindications for it's application. The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) [4]suggests that with regard to acupuncture contraindications should be thought of in two groups:

  • Absolute contraindications: The use of acupuncture is forbidden.
  • Relative contraindications: Acupuncture can be used with careful consideration of the risk factors.

The World Health Organisation Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture state that, "It is difficult to stipulate absolute contraindications for this form of therapy." However, they suggest that for reasons of safety, it should be avoided in pregnancy, medical and surgical emergencies, malignant tumors and bleeding disorders. [5]

Contraindications[edit | edit source]

The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists provides guidelines on contraindications aimed specifically at physiotherapists practicing acupuncture.

Absolute Contraindications[edit | edit source]

They state absolute contraindications to be:

  • The use of points LI 4; SP 6; UB 60, 67 and sacral foraminal points B 31, 32, 33, 34 during pregnancy.
  • The use of acupuncture with patient who have uncontrolled movements.
  • The needling of and oedematous limb at risk of lymphoedema
  • Areas of spinal instability where as the result relaxation of the surrounding muscles could potentially give rise to spinal cord compression.
  • The needling of scars, keloid, recent incisional wounds or skin with sensory deficit.
  • The needling of intracapusular points if the patient is on anticoagulant therapy or is a haemophiliac.

Relative Contraindications[edit | edit source]

And relative contraindications to include:

Special Precautions[edit | edit source]

  • Bleeding tendency
  • Immuno-suppression,
  • Epilepsy
  • Pregnancy
  • Unclear diagnosis
  • Abnormal physical structure
  • Patient who needs to drive after acupuncture treatment
  • Strong reactors to acupuncture

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ National Institutes of Health Public Health Service US Department of Health and Human Services. Acupuncture: Consensus Development Conference Report. Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain & Symptom Control. 1998 Jan 1;6(4):67-90.
  2. ↑ Cummings M, Reid F. BMAS policy statements in some controversial areas of acupuncture practice. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2004 Sep;22(3):134-6.
  3. ↑ Van Hal M, Green MS. Acupuncture.
  4. ↑ Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, www.aacp.org.uk, (accessed 18th July 2013)
  5. ↑ Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture, World Health Organisation, www.apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip56e/4.2.html, (accessed 18th July 2013)
  6. ↑ Morar D, Tan D, Nielsen A, Anderson B, Chuang E, Connolly M, Gao Q, Gil EN, Lechuga C, Kim M, Naqvi H. www. aacp. org. uk.


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