Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksBenefitsRisks and Safety ConsiderationsWhat to Expect During an Acupuncture Session for Back PainOther TherapiesHow to Find a Practitioner
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Benefits
Risks and Safety Considerations
What to Expect During an Acupuncture Session for Back Pain
Other Therapies
How to Find a Practitioner
Acupuncturefor back pain is a complementary therapy that’s often used alongside more conventional medical treatments. As part ofTraditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), acupuncture has been used to treat different types of pain and promote better health for thousands of years.
Modern-day systematic reviews on the effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain have shown mixed results.Some studies and clinical trials show that acupuncture works well for relieving chronic and acute back pain; others suggest it doesn’t provide significant or long-lasting pain relief.
Read on to learn what you need to know about if and how acupuncture relieves back pain, what to expect during an acupuncture session, how to find a board-certified acupuncturist, and more.
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How Acupuncture Works for Relieving Back Pain
Acupuncture was first practiced in China over 3,000 years ago and has been widely used as a “complementary” or “alternative” therapy in the United States since the 1970s.Despite being an ancient form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 21st-century scientists still aren’t exactly sure how acupuncture works.Even after countless studies and randomized clinical trials, the million-dollar question remains: How does acupuncture relieve pain?
Fear of Needles? Don’t Worry.Even if you have a fear of needles used to draw blood or inject medicine, there’s no need to be afraid of small acupuncture needles. These hair-thin needles may cause a slight sting or “prickly” sensation when they first puncture the skin, but you won’t even know they’re there if you don’t look.
Fear of Needles? Don’t Worry.
Even if you have a fear of needles used to draw blood or inject medicine, there’s no need to be afraid of small acupuncture needles. These hair-thin needles may cause a slight sting or “prickly” sensation when they first puncture the skin, but you won’t even know they’re there if you don’t look.
The original theory of how acupuncture works is rooted in the concept of vital Qi (pronounced “chee”) energy flowing through different channels or meridians in the body. When someone is experiencing back pain, the belief is that inserting acupuncture needles in specific trigger/release points can unblock stagnated Qi energy flow in ways that have ananalgesic, pain-relieving effect.
One evidence-based mechanism of action hypothesis is that acupuncture releasesendorphins(the body’sendogenousmorphine) and that these endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs) act as natural painkillers.
Acupuncture may trigger aplacebo effectthat seems to have legitimate therapeutic benefits for people with back pain.The notion that acupuncture works via the placebo effect is a hotly debated and somewhat controversial topic among experts in the field.To date, clinical trials comparing authentic acupuncture to placebo controls have led to contradictory and inconclusive findings.
Although it’s unclear how well acupuncture alleviates back pain, evidence-based research suggests that, in most cases, this alternative therapy often has more potential benefits than risks and may provide temporary natural pain relief for some people. That said, more high-quality acupuncture research is needed.
How Many Sessions Do I Need for Therapeutic Relief?
A typical acupuncture session involves puncturing the skin with anywhere from five to 20 needles. People usually have between one and three, 15–30 minute weekly sessions for 6–12 weeks to get therapeutic relief.
People with back pain may feel immediate (but not long-lasting) pain reduction after one treatment. Many health insurance plans will cover numerous acupuncture sessions in a calendar year. For example, Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers 12 acupuncture treatments for chronic low back pain in a 90-day period and 8 more if someone shows improvement for a total of 20 sessions in a 12-month period.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Back Pain
The biggest potential benefit when using acupuncture for back pain is an instant reduction of pain intensity right after treatment. A 2023 randomized trial found that trigger point acupuncture for people with chroniclow-back pain had a significant short-term effect on pain relief. However, there was no evidence of long-term benefits eight weeks after treatment sessions completely stopped.
Although acupuncture may not eliminate back pain, there is moderate evidence that a 15-30 minute acupuncture session causes pain reduction immediately after treatment and that back pain relief can last for days.
A 2019 systematic review and analysis of randomized controlled trials found that acupuncture’s swift pain-reduction benefits can last until the next follow-up visit when someone receives acupuncture treatments one to three times per week.
Research suggests that in addition to the localized pain-reduction benefits of acupuncture therapy specifically targeting back pain, these treatments can also have whole-body effects that improve overall well-being.
Acupuncture Trigger Points for Back PainBL 40, a spot behind the right knee, is considered the “grand acupuncture point” for the lower back. For back pain that extends down the leg (sciatica), the recommended acupuncture points are along the back of the legs leading to the tailbone, including GB 30, BL 31, BL 37, BL 40, and BL 57.
Acupuncture Trigger Points for Back Pain
BL 40, a spot behind the right knee, is considered the “grand acupuncture point” for the lower back. For back pain that extends down the leg (sciatica), the recommended acupuncture points are along the back of the legs leading to the tailbone, including GB 30, BL 31, BL 37, BL 40, and BL 57.
Acupuncture Risks and Safety Considerations
Acupuncture is generally well-tolerated and considered safe, but there are some potential risks. The most common adverse reactions to acupuncture treatment include:
The possibility of getting an infection from unsterilized acupuncture needles has historically been a predominant safety consideration.The disinfection and sterilization of acupuncture needles is a precondition for safe treatment.
Therefore, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations mandate that all acupuncture needles (considered a Class IImedical device) are disposable, single-use only, and must come directly from a sterile, factory-sealed package that’s opened moments before each patient receives treatment.Always speak to a healthcare provider before seeking out acupuncture treatment. For people taking certain medications, such asblood thinners, or those who have apacemaker, acupuncture isn’t recommended.Always tell an acupuncturist about any medical conditions, supplements, or prescription medications you’re taking before receiving treatment.
Many people feel energized after an acupuncture session and experience immediate back pain relief soon after removing the needles.
Other Complementary Therapies for Back Pain
There’s low- to moderate-quality scientific evidence that the following complementary therapies and mind/body practices may be helpful for chronic back pain lasting three months or longer:
For acute low-back pain lasting up to four weeks, there’s low-quality scientific evidence that acupuncture,massage therapy, or spinal manipulation can be helpful. Based on patient preferences and available treatment options, creating an individually tailored mix of different complementary therapies may enhance the effectiveness of acupuncture.
Before getting acupuncture or other alternative treatments, speak with a healthcare provider about what personalized blend of conventional and complementary therapies would be optimal for you based on your medical history and back pain symptoms.
How to Find an Acupuncture Practitioner for Back Pain
To find a board-certified acupuncturist, visit the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) website’s nationwide directory or call their toll-free number,888-381-1140. NCCAOM is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that certifies qualified and reputable acupuncture practitioners in the United States.
When evaluating a board-certified acupuncturist’s credentials, experience, and patient reviews, look for someone who takes a patient-centric approach and will tailor treatment to your specific needs.
Hygiene and sanitary conditions should be top of mind when choosing an acupuncture practitioner. Never select an acupuncturist flagged for uncleanliness or unsanitary conditions in their reviews. Don’t be afraid to ask for a guarantee that your acupuncture practitioner always uses brand new, single-use-only sterilized needles from an individual blister package or unopened factory-sealed box before starting your first session.
Summary
Always consult a healthcare professional who can give you personalized advice about acupuncture’s potential pros and cons based on your back pain symptoms and other factors.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD.Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015:1-18. doi:10.1155/2015/328196Acupuncture Massage College.Early history of acupuncture in America.Jishun J, Mittelman M.Acupuncture: past, present, and future.Glob Adv Health Med. 2014;3(4):6-8. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.042Foley C, Litscher G.The biggest obstacle to the integration of acupuncture: the meaning of qi from the ancients to Einstein.Medical Acupuncture. Published online August 10, 2023:acu.2023.0054. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0054Kawakita K, Okada K.Acupuncture therapy: mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety: a potential intervention for psychogenic disorders?BioPsychoSocial Med. 2014;8(1):4. doi:10.1186/1751-0759-8-4Gabriella H.Biomedical effects of acupuncture.IJCAM. 2015;2(1). doi:10.15406/ijcam.2015.02.00048DENG S, ZHAO X, DU R, et al.Is acupuncture no more than a placebo? Extensive discussion required about possible bias.Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1247-1252. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2653Kaptchuk TJ.Placebo effects in acupuncture.Medical Acupuncture. 2020;32(6):352-356. doi:10.1089/acu.2020.1483Appleyard I, Lundeberg T, Robinson N.Should systematic reviews assess the risk of bias from sham–placebo acupuncture control procedures?European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014;6(2):234-243. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2014.03.004Mayo Clinic.Acupuncture.Medicare.gov website.Acupuncture.Liu H, Li YP, Hou MJ, et al.Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.Acupunct Med. 2023;41(3):130-141. doi:10.1177/09645284221107685Chen YJ, Chen CT, Liu JY, Shimizu Bassi G, Yang YQ.What is the appropriate acupuncture treatment schedule for chronic pain? Review and analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019;2019:1-10. doi:10.1155/2019/5281039Birch S.Treating the patient not the symptoms: Acupuncture to improve overall health – Evidence, acceptance and strategies.Integrative Medicine Research. 2019;8(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.005Baroncini A, Maffulli N, Eschweiler J, Molsberger F, Klimuch A, Migliorini F.Acupuncture in chronic aspecific low back pain: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.J Orthop Surg Res. 2022;17(1):319. doi:10.1186/s13018-022-03212-3Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, Irnich D.Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies.BMJ Open. 2021;11(9):e045961. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961Xu M, Yang C, Nian T, et al.Adverse effects associated with acupuncture therapies: An evidence mapping from 535 systematic reviews.Chin Med. 2023;18(1):38. doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00743-7Hui C, Hao H.Practice and evaluation: Management of acupuncture needle disinfection and sterilization.Chinese Nursing Research. 2015;2(2-3):84-85. doi:10.1016/j.cnre.2015.04.001Federal Register.Medical devices: Reclassification of acupuncture needles for the practice of acupuncture.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Low-back pain and complementary health approaches: What you need to know.Giovanardi CM, Gonzalez-Lorenzo M, Poini A, et al.Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Integrative Medicine Research. 2023;12(3):100972. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100972American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM).Essential Guide: Key Traits That Define a Good Acupuncturist.Additional ReadingBarth J, Muff S, Kern A, et al.Effect of briefing on acupuncture treatment outcome expectations, pain, and adverse side effects among patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2121418. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21418Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD.Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015:1-18. doi:10.1155/2015/328196Acupuncture Massage College.Early history of acupuncture in America.Jishun J, Mittelman M.Acupuncture: past, present, and future.Glob Adv Health Med. 2014;3(4):6-8. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.042Foley C, Litscher G.The biggest obstacle to the integration of acupuncture: the meaning of qi from the ancients to Einstein.Medical Acupuncture. Published online August 10, 2023:acu.2023.0054. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0054Kawakita K, Okada K.Acupuncture therapy: mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety: a potential intervention for psychogenic disorders?BioPsychoSocial Med. 2014;8(1):4. doi:10.1186/1751-0759-8-4Gabriella H.Biomedical effects of acupuncture.IJCAM. 2015;2(1). doi:10.15406/ijcam.2015.02.00048DENG S, ZHAO X, DU R, et al.Is acupuncture no more than a placebo? Extensive discussion required about possible bias.Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1247-1252. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2653Kaptchuk TJ.Placebo effects in acupuncture.Medical Acupuncture. 2020;32(6):352-356. doi:10.1089/acu.2020.1483Appleyard I, Lundeberg T, Robinson N.Should systematic reviews assess the risk of bias from sham–placebo acupuncture control procedures?European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014;6(2):234-243. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2014.03.004Mayo Clinic.Acupuncture.Medicare.gov website.Acupuncture.Liu H, Li YP, Hou MJ, et al.Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.Acupunct Med. 2023;41(3):130-141. doi:10.1177/09645284221107685Chen YJ, Chen CT, Liu JY, Shimizu Bassi G, Yang YQ.What is the appropriate acupuncture treatment schedule for chronic pain? Review and analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019;2019:1-10. doi:10.1155/2019/5281039Birch S.Treating the patient not the symptoms: Acupuncture to improve overall health – Evidence, acceptance and strategies.Integrative Medicine Research. 2019;8(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.005Baroncini A, Maffulli N, Eschweiler J, Molsberger F, Klimuch A, Migliorini F.Acupuncture in chronic aspecific low back pain: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.J Orthop Surg Res. 2022;17(1):319. doi:10.1186/s13018-022-03212-3Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, Irnich D.Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies.BMJ Open. 2021;11(9):e045961. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961Xu M, Yang C, Nian T, et al.Adverse effects associated with acupuncture therapies: An evidence mapping from 535 systematic reviews.Chin Med. 2023;18(1):38. doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00743-7Hui C, Hao H.Practice and evaluation: Management of acupuncture needle disinfection and sterilization.Chinese Nursing Research. 2015;2(2-3):84-85. doi:10.1016/j.cnre.2015.04.001Federal Register.Medical devices: Reclassification of acupuncture needles for the practice of acupuncture.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Low-back pain and complementary health approaches: What you need to know.Giovanardi CM, Gonzalez-Lorenzo M, Poini A, et al.Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Integrative Medicine Research. 2023;12(3):100972. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100972American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM).Essential Guide: Key Traits That Define a Good Acupuncturist.Additional ReadingBarth J, Muff S, Kern A, et al.Effect of briefing on acupuncture treatment outcome expectations, pain, and adverse side effects among patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2121418. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21418Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD.Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015:1-18. doi:10.1155/2015/328196Acupuncture Massage College.Early history of acupuncture in America.Jishun J, Mittelman M.Acupuncture: past, present, and future.Glob Adv Health Med. 2014;3(4):6-8. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.042Foley C, Litscher G.The biggest obstacle to the integration of acupuncture: the meaning of qi from the ancients to Einstein.Medical Acupuncture. Published online August 10, 2023:acu.2023.0054. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0054Kawakita K, Okada K.Acupuncture therapy: mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety: a potential intervention for psychogenic disorders?BioPsychoSocial Med. 2014;8(1):4. doi:10.1186/1751-0759-8-4Gabriella H.Biomedical effects of acupuncture.IJCAM. 2015;2(1). doi:10.15406/ijcam.2015.02.00048DENG S, ZHAO X, DU R, et al.Is acupuncture no more than a placebo? Extensive discussion required about possible bias.Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1247-1252. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2653Kaptchuk TJ.Placebo effects in acupuncture.Medical Acupuncture. 2020;32(6):352-356. doi:10.1089/acu.2020.1483Appleyard I, Lundeberg T, Robinson N.Should systematic reviews assess the risk of bias from sham–placebo acupuncture control procedures?European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014;6(2):234-243. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2014.03.004Mayo Clinic.Acupuncture.Medicare.gov website.Acupuncture.Liu H, Li YP, Hou MJ, et al.Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.Acupunct Med. 2023;41(3):130-141. doi:10.1177/09645284221107685Chen YJ, Chen CT, Liu JY, Shimizu Bassi G, Yang YQ.What is the appropriate acupuncture treatment schedule for chronic pain? Review and analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019;2019:1-10. doi:10.1155/2019/5281039Birch S.Treating the patient not the symptoms: Acupuncture to improve overall health – Evidence, acceptance and strategies.Integrative Medicine Research. 2019;8(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.005Baroncini A, Maffulli N, Eschweiler J, Molsberger F, Klimuch A, Migliorini F.Acupuncture in chronic aspecific low back pain: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.J Orthop Surg Res. 2022;17(1):319. doi:10.1186/s13018-022-03212-3Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, Irnich D.Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies.BMJ Open. 2021;11(9):e045961. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961Xu M, Yang C, Nian T, et al.Adverse effects associated with acupuncture therapies: An evidence mapping from 535 systematic reviews.Chin Med. 2023;18(1):38. doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00743-7Hui C, Hao H.Practice and evaluation: Management of acupuncture needle disinfection and sterilization.Chinese Nursing Research. 2015;2(2-3):84-85. doi:10.1016/j.cnre.2015.04.001Federal Register.Medical devices: Reclassification of acupuncture needles for the practice of acupuncture.Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Low-back pain and complementary health approaches: What you need to know.Giovanardi CM, Gonzalez-Lorenzo M, Poini A, et al.Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Integrative Medicine Research. 2023;12(3):100972. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100972American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM).Essential Guide: Key Traits That Define a Good Acupuncturist.
Liu L, Skinner M, McDonough S, Mabire L, Baxter GD.Acupuncture for low back pain: an overview of systematic reviews.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015:1-18. doi:10.1155/2015/328196
Acupuncture Massage College.Early history of acupuncture in America.
Jishun J, Mittelman M.Acupuncture: past, present, and future.Glob Adv Health Med. 2014;3(4):6-8. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.042
Foley C, Litscher G.The biggest obstacle to the integration of acupuncture: the meaning of qi from the ancients to Einstein.Medical Acupuncture. Published online August 10, 2023:acu.2023.0054. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0054
Kawakita K, Okada K.Acupuncture therapy: mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety: a potential intervention for psychogenic disorders?BioPsychoSocial Med. 2014;8(1):4. doi:10.1186/1751-0759-8-4
Gabriella H.Biomedical effects of acupuncture.IJCAM. 2015;2(1). doi:10.15406/ijcam.2015.02.00048
DENG S, ZHAO X, DU R, et al.Is acupuncture no more than a placebo? Extensive discussion required about possible bias.Exp Ther Med. 2015;10(4):1247-1252. doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2653
Kaptchuk TJ.Placebo effects in acupuncture.Medical Acupuncture. 2020;32(6):352-356. doi:10.1089/acu.2020.1483
Appleyard I, Lundeberg T, Robinson N.Should systematic reviews assess the risk of bias from sham–placebo acupuncture control procedures?European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014;6(2):234-243. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2014.03.004
Mayo Clinic.Acupuncture.
Medicare.gov website.Acupuncture.
Liu H, Li YP, Hou MJ, et al.Effect of trigger point acupuncture on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised controlled trial.Acupunct Med. 2023;41(3):130-141. doi:10.1177/09645284221107685
Chen YJ, Chen CT, Liu JY, Shimizu Bassi G, Yang YQ.What is the appropriate acupuncture treatment schedule for chronic pain? Review and analysis of randomized controlled trials.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019;2019:1-10. doi:10.1155/2019/5281039
Birch S.Treating the patient not the symptoms: Acupuncture to improve overall health – Evidence, acceptance and strategies.Integrative Medicine Research. 2019;8(1):33-41. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.005
Baroncini A, Maffulli N, Eschweiler J, Molsberger F, Klimuch A, Migliorini F.Acupuncture in chronic aspecific low back pain: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.J Orthop Surg Res. 2022;17(1):319. doi:10.1186/s13018-022-03212-3
Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, Irnich D.Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies.BMJ Open. 2021;11(9):e045961. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045961
Xu M, Yang C, Nian T, et al.Adverse effects associated with acupuncture therapies: An evidence mapping from 535 systematic reviews.Chin Med. 2023;18(1):38. doi:10.1186/s13020-023-00743-7
Hui C, Hao H.Practice and evaluation: Management of acupuncture needle disinfection and sterilization.Chinese Nursing Research. 2015;2(2-3):84-85. doi:10.1016/j.cnre.2015.04.001
Federal Register.Medical devices: Reclassification of acupuncture needles for the practice of acupuncture.
Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, Wong SYS, Chung VCH.Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):3369. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03272-0
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Low-back pain and complementary health approaches: What you need to know.
Giovanardi CM, Gonzalez-Lorenzo M, Poini A, et al.Acupuncture as an alternative or in addition to conventional treatment for chronic non-specific low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Integrative Medicine Research. 2023;12(3):100972. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2023.100972
American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM).Essential Guide: Key Traits That Define a Good Acupuncturist.
Barth J, Muff S, Kern A, et al.Effect of briefing on acupuncture treatment outcome expectations, pain, and adverse side effects among patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2121418. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21418Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063
Barth J, Muff S, Kern A, et al.Effect of briefing on acupuncture treatment outcome expectations, pain, and adverse side effects among patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2121418. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21418
Lim TK, Ma Y, Berger F, Litscher G.Acupuncture and neural mechanism in the management of low back pain-An update.Medicines (Basel). 2018;5(3):63. doi:10.3390/medicines5030063
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