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Acupuncture, which originated in China between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago, is gaining respect among U.S. physicians and is growing in interest among patients searching for alternatives to medications and invasive procedures. 

In China, acupuncture is one component of the system of traditional Chinese medicine (which also includes herbal medicine, body work, exercise and diet) and is used, often in combination with Western medicine, for the treatment of nearly all medical conditions.  It has also been used for pain management, anesthesia, and even surgery. 

In the United States, acupuncture is viewed primarily as a pain management tool to treat headaches, arthritis, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia and other painful conditions.  It also has a role in the treatment of addiction, particularly as an aid to help patients stop smoking.

Another area where acupuncture can be a very helpful is women’s health.  It can be an effective treatment (or adjunct to conventional treatment) for premenstrual syndrome, infertility, pelvic pain, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, prevention of miscarriage, breech presentation, and symptoms related to menopause such as hot flashes.

In the treatment of infertility, for example, acupuncture can increase a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant through a number of mechanisms.  Acupuncture improves blood flow to the reproductive organs, may help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle, and can aid in the release and balance of hormones vital to a normal cycle and reproduction. 

Furthermore, most patients find the treatments to be very relaxing and stress reduction is often an important factor in improving the chances of getting pregnant. 

For women undergoing in vitro fertilization, several studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can improve the chances (up to 60 per cent in some studies) of successful embryo transfer.

Acupuncture is also a safe modality to help manage severe nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester.

Finally, some research and anecdotal evidence suggests that acupuncture can be beneficial in helping women manage hot flashes associated with menopause.  In a time when there are clear risks to taking exogenous hormones (such as estrogen), acupuncture may offer a safe alternative to help manage these often debilitating symptoms.

An acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very fine, solid, stainless steel needles (which come in pre-sterilized packages) into points along meridians, or channels, that run up and down the length of the body and to the tips of the hands and feet.  The number of needles and points at which they are inserted often vary among practitioners.  A typical treatment may last 20 to 30 minutes, and a course of treatment may include between eight and 12 sessions. 

In general, acupuncture is not particularly painful (though patients may feel a small pinch when a needle is first inserted, and some points are more painful than others).  It is considered to be a very safe treatment modality, and the main risks of the treatment include bleeding, a very slight risk of infection, or pain due to a misplaced needle.

Typically, a single session of acupuncture may cost between $60 to $100, again depending on the practitioner.  In Delaware, most insurance plans do not cover the cost of acupuncture (this includes Medicare and Medicaid), so the cost of this treatment is generally out-of-pocket for the patient.