Acupuncture

Acupuncture
ICD-10-PCS8E0H30Z
ICD-999.91-99.92
MeSHD015670
OPS-301 code8-975.2
Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese針灸[a]
Simplified Chinese针灸
Literal meaning"needling [and] moxibustion"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinzhēnjiǔ
Wade–Gileschên1-chiu3
IPA[ʈʂə́n.tɕjòʊ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationjāmgau
Jyutpingzam1-gau3
IPA[tsɐm˥.kɐw˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJchiam-kù
This article is part of a series on
Alternative medicine
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Controversies
Classifications
Traditional medicine
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Acupuncture[b] is a form of alternative medicine[2] and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body.[3] Acupuncture is a pseudoscience;[4][5] the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientific knowledge,[6] and it has been characterized as quackery.[c]

There is a range of acupuncture technological variants that originated in different philosophies,[7] and techniques vary depending on the country in which it is performed. However, it can be divided into two main foundational philosophical applications and approaches; the first being the modern standardized form called eight principles TCM and the second being an older system that is based on the ancient Daoist wuxing, better known as the five elements or phases in the West.[8][9][10] Acupuncture is most often used to attempt pain relief,[11][12] though acupuncturists say that it can also be used for a wide range of other conditions. Acupuncture is typically used in combination with other forms of treatment.[13]

The global acupuncture market was worth US$24.55 billion in 2017. The market was led by Europe with a 32.7% share, followed by Asia-Pacific with a 29.4% share and the Americas with a 25.3% share. It was estimated in 2021 that the industry would reach a market size of US$55 billion by 2023.[14]

The conclusions of trials and systematic reviews of acupuncture generally provide no good evidence of benefit, which suggests that it is not an effective method of healthcare.[15][16] Acupuncture is generally safe when done by appropriately trained practitioners using clean needle techniques and single-use needles.[17][18] When properly delivered, it has a low rate of mostly minor adverse effects.[3][17] When accidents and infections do occur, they are associated with neglect on the part of the practitioner, particularly in the application of sterile techniques.[11][18] A review conducted in 2013 stated that reports of infection transmission increased significantly in the preceding decade.[19] The most frequently reported adverse events were pneumothorax and infections.[11] Since serious adverse events continue to be reported, it is recommended that acupuncturists be trained sufficiently to reduce the risk.[11]

Scientific investigation has not found any histological or physiological evidence for traditional Chinese concepts such as qi, meridians, and acupuncture points,[d][23] and many modern practitioners no longer support the existence of qi or meridians, which was a major part of early belief systems.[7][24][25] Acupuncture is believed to have originated around 100 BC in China, around the time The Inner Classic of Huang Di (Huangdi Neijing) was published,[26] though some experts suggest it could have been practiced earlier.[8] Over time, conflicting claims and belief systems emerged about the effect of lunar, celestial and earthly cycles, yin and yang energies, and a body's "rhythm" on the effectiveness of treatment.[27] Acupuncture fluctuated in popularity in China due to changes in the country's political leadership and the preferential use of rationalism or scientific medicine.[26] Acupuncture spread first to Korea in the 6th century AD, then to Japan through medical missionaries,[28] and then to Europe, beginning with France.[26] In the 20th century, as it spread to the United States and Western countries, spiritual elements of acupuncture that conflicted with scientific knowledge were sometimes abandoned in favor of simply tapping needles into acupuncture points.[26][29][30]


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  1. ^ Pyne D, Shenker NG (August 2008). "Demystifying acupuncture". Rheumatology. 47 (8): 1132–36. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken161. PMID 18460551.
  2. ^ Berman BM, Langevin HM, Witt CM, Dubner R (July 2010). "Acupuncture for chronic low back pain". The New England Journal of Medicine. 363 (5): 454–61. doi:10.1056/NEJMct0806114. PMID 20818865. S2CID 10129706.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Adams 2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Baran GR, Kiana MF, Samuel SP (2014). "Science, Pseudoscience, and Not Science: How do They Differ?". Healthcare and Biomedical Technology in the 21st Century. Springer. pp. 19–57. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-8541-4_2. ISBN 978-1-4614-8540-7. various pseudosciences maintain their popularity in our society: acupuncture, astrology, homeopathy, etc.
  5. ^ Good R (2012). "Chapter 5: Why the Study of Pseudoscience Should Be Included in Nature of Science Studies". In Khine MS (ed.). Advances in Nature of Science Research: Concepts and Methodologies. Springer. p. 103. ISBN 978-94-007-2457-0. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2016. Believing in something like chiropractic or acupuncture really can help relieve pain to a small degree [...] but many related claims of medical cures by these pseudosciences are bogus.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Barrett2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Peñas2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Ernst2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Ahn, Chang-Beohm; Jang, Kyung-Jun; Yoon, Hyun-Min; Kim, Cheol-Hong; Min, Young-Kwang; Song, Chun-Ho; Lee, Jang-Cheon (1 December 2009). "A Study of the Sa-Ahm Five Element Acupuncture Theory". Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2 (4): 309–320. doi:10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60074-1. ISSN 2005-2901. PMID 20633508.
  10. ^ "Syndrome differentiation according to the eight principles". www.shen-nong.com. Shen-nong Limited. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Ernst 2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference NCCAM2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Hutchinson AJ, Ball S, Andrews JC, Jones GG (October 2012). "The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review of the literature". Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 7 (1): 36. doi:10.1186/1749-799X-7-36. PMC 3563482. PMID 23111099.
  14. ^ "Acupuncture Market Share, Size Global Industry Revenue, Business Growth, Demand and Applications Market Research Report to 2023". MarketWatch. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference sys0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference sys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Xu S was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nciacupuncture was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gnatta2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Singh & Ernst 2008, p. 72
  21. ^ Singh & Ernst 2008, p. 107
  22. ^ Singh & Ernst 2008, p. 387
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ahn2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mann2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference Williams2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference White-Ernst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference Prioreschi2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference abc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Cite error: The named reference Porter 2013 p. 403 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jackson 2011 p. 610 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).