By Janis Egan • Ask An Acupuncturist • July 6, 2009

Acupuncture is considered a safe medical treatment. For this reason, some physicians and practitioners suggest acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to other medical treatments. Acupuncture is sometimes used in combination with conventional painkillers, or to replace them.

In 1998, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a statement that said there is enough evidence to show that acupuncture had beneficial pain-relieving qualities in adults experiencing postoperative dental pain, as well as nausea from chemotherapy.

The NIH also found acupuncture useful in treating low back pain and many other conditions, such as headache, myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, sleep disturbances and depression.

In China, acupuncture is sometimes used for anesthesia. Chinese medicine is often used in combination with Western medical treatment, and many patients are needled in the same room at the same time.

This reduces the cost and increases the availability and frequency of Oriental Medicine choices in China.

Factors to be aware of when considering acupuncture in Wisconsin include safety, convenience and cost.

Here are some suggestions regarding acupuncture:

Ask your doctor if he supports your decision to try acupuncture. Many physicians understand the theories of acupuncture and know that it is a safe option.

Check on the acupuncturist’s background and qualifications. Check the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine website (www.nccaom.org/ find/index.html) for board-certified practitioners and your state government web site for licensure (https://ice.wi.gov/ LicenseLookup/individual.do). The Midwest College of Oriental Medicine (www.acupunc ture.edu) is another source of practitioner information.

Consider costs, benefits and convenience. It is advisable to ask about the success rates of acupuncture and the probability of achieving desired levels of relief. However, it is difficult to predict an individual’s response to acupuncture before treatment and comparison is not always accurate. Results obtained post treatment should be noted by the patient and shared with the practitioner.