How to Make Acupuncture Less Harmful: Useful Tips for Doctors in Newport Beach and Orange County

As an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture has become a popular treatment in Southern California, especially in Newport Beach and Orange County, where people are health-conscious and have a lot of money. Acupuncture is becoming more and more common as a way to deal with pain, stress, anxiety, and a wide range of other health problems. As with all medical treatments, though, it could have side effects, some of which patients may find unpleasant or scary. So, it’s very important for people who practice acupuncture to know about the risks and take steps to reduce them.

If you work as an acupuncturist in Newport Beach or Orange County, this complete guide will help you learn how to lessen the side effects of acupuncture. Our approach is well-thought-out, based on evidence, and puts a lot of emphasis on safety, good communication, and individualized care. We can help you keep your reputation for offering high-quality, patient-centered acupuncture services.

Learning About the Possible Side Effects of Acupuncture

A lot of people think that acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated treatment when it is done by trained professionals. Still, it comes with some risks and side effects, just like any other medical procedure. By being aware of and dealing with these risks, acupuncture practitioners can get the most healing benefits while minimizing bad effects. You should be aware of the following side effects:

1. Getting hurt and bleeding

One of the most common side effects of acupuncture is small bruises or small amounts of blood. In this case, this happens because the needle is pushing on blood arteries mechanically. Some people are more likely to get bruises, especially those who take supplements or medicines that thin the blood, like aspirin, warfarin, or fish oil.

2. Feeling dizzy and passing out

Another possible side effect is feeling dizzy or lightheaded. If a patient has low blood pressure or is afraid of needles, their blood pressure may drop during or after the treatment, which could make them pass out or feel dizzy.

3. Pain and a heavy feeling

People who get acupuncture often feel a little tired or heavy at the treatment sites, especially in the hours after an acupuncture session. This side effect usually only lasts a day or two before going away.

4. Sickness

Because acupuncture can increase the flow of energy, some people may feel tired, especially after the first few sessions. This reaction is usually the body getting used to the treatment, especially in people who are tired all the time or who have recently been stressed.

5. Symptoms getting worse

Patients may sometimes notice that their symptoms get worse for a short time after acupuncture treatment. People often call this a “healing crisis,” because the body responds to the stimulation, and the conditions that are being treated may get worse at first before getting better.

6. Getting sick

Infections are rare, but they can happen if you don’t keep clean. This is especially true when needles that aren’t clean are used or when the wrong methods are employed. Infections can range from being just a little annoying to being very dangerous.

Important Ways to Lower Side Effects

Acupuncturists in Newport Beach and Orange County can do a number of things to minimize side effects and make sure their patients get the best results possible. Let’s take a closer look at these tactics.

1. Careful evaluation and screening of the patient

Thoroughly screening patients is the first and most important thing that can be done to lower the chance of side effects. A thorough evaluation lets you know about your patient’s past medical history, present health state, and unique needs.

Medical background: Look over the patient’s medical background, making sure to include any allergies, conditions that were already there, or bad reactions to acupuncture in the past. Be extra careful when working with people who take blood thinners, have a history of blood clotting problems, or have heart problems.

Psychosocial Factors: Think about the patient’s mental health, especially if they are afraid of needles, have nervousness, or are under a lot of stress. Dealing with your worries ahead of time can help lower the risks of side effects like dizziness or fainting that are made worse by psychological stress.

Medication and Supplements: Look at any supplements or medicines you are taking that might affect how easily you bleed or bruise, like anticoagulants, NSAIDs, ginseng, or vitamin E. With this knowledge, you can change your technique to avoid getting bruises.

2. How to Pick the Best Acupuncture Points

The choice of acupuncture spots is very important for keeping side effects to a minimum. There are some acupuncture points that are better for some people than for others, and using some points may have bad effects. Here’s how to make smart choices:

Minimize Trauma: Acupuncture points near big blood vessels or nerves should be avoided by people who are more likely to bruise or bleed. Some points, like those on the forearms or legs, may not bruise as easily as spots on the face or near major blood vessels.

Point Choice for Certain Conditions: Choose points based on the patient’s state and medical history. For example, when treating people with stress headaches, choose points that work but don’t overstimulate areas like the scalp or upper back, as this could make the person tired or sore after the treatment.

Lower Intensity for Sensitive Patients: For sensitive patients, use places that are easier to reach, like the ends of the arms or legs. These parts of the body are usually not as sensitive as the back or belly, which lowers the chance of pain after treatment.

3. The use of clean, high-quality needles

One important thing to do to avoid side effects, especially infections, is to use good tools and make sure they are clean. Take a look at what Newport beach practitioner acupuncture should do:

Sterilization Protocol: Always use needles that have only been used once and come from a reliable company. Serious infections can happen if you reuse needles or use needles that haven’t been properly sterilized. This could hurt your patients’ trust in you and your image.

Needle Quality: Needles that are of good quality are less likely to break, bend, or cause extra damage to the skin and tissues. Needles with a smooth, fine tip don’t damage the tissue as much, so they don’t hurt or bruise as much.

4. The right way to insert a needle and do it

It’s just as important to choose the right point as it is to use the right placement technique:

Gentle Insertion: Carefully place the needles so as not to hurt the skin or muscles underneath. When insertions are done quickly or forcefully, they can cause more pain, bruises, and a longer healing time for the patient.

Needle Depth: Change the depth of the needle based on the acupuncture point and the patient’s body type. If you stick the needles too deeply, they could hurt deeper structures, and if you stick them too thin, they might not work at all.

Avoid Over-Manipulation: Moving the needles around too much can hurt the tissues and make pain or bruises worse. Do not move the needle around too much, especially with people who are sensitive or who already have health problems.

5. Teaching and talking to patients

It’s important to be clear with your patients about what to expect and make sure they’re comfortable during their acupuncture journey. Here are some ways you can improve educating patients:

Before the acupuncture treatment starts, take the time to talk about the possible side effects and what the patient can expect. This makes the patient feel better and gives them more power. For example, say that you might feel some slight pain or bruising, but that it will go away in a few days.

Taking Care of Anxiety in Patients: If a patient is worried or scared of needles, teach them how to relax first, by doing deep breathing exercises, for example. A calm and encouraging environment can make it less likely that side effects like dizziness or passing out will happen.

Post-treatment care: After the session, give clear instructions on how to heal, like not doing too much exercise, drinking plenty of water, and resting. Also, tell patients to let you know about any strange symptoms, like feeling too tired, getting bruises, or being in pain, so that you can keep an eye on them and make changes to future treatments.

6. Constantly checking in and following up

A key way to cut down on side effects is to keep in touch with your patients after they’ve finished treatment. A regular check-in lets you know about any problems right away and makes it possible to change the treatment as needed.

After Treatment Follow-up: Tell your patients to get in touch with you if they feel a lot of pain or other bad effects after the session. A proactive follow-up call or message can help people feel better and stop problems from getting worse.

Changing the Treatment Plan: You may need to change the treatment plan if a patient has serious side effects like bruises, pain, or tiredness. You might want to cut down on the number of needles used, the depth of entry, or the time between sessions.

7. Special Things to Think About for High-Risk Groups

Some types of people may be more likely to have side effects. These people include the old, women who are pregnant, people who have problems with bleeding, and people who have certain medical conditions. For the safety of your patients, you must be aware of these risks and make changes to your care plan as needed:

When you are pregnant, you shouldn’t touch certain acupuncture spots. It is important to stay away from points that could cause contractions in the uterus or affect the growth of the baby.

Patients who are old or frail: Patients who are older may have thinner skin, more weak tissue, and less ability to handle stress. Use a softer way to needle and make the necessary changes to the points.

Patients with Bleeding Disorders: People who have problems with clotting blood or who take medicines that thin the blood need extra care to keep from hurting and bleeding too much. Always ask about drugs, and think about using fewer needles that are closer together.

Increasing the use of acupuncture in Newport Beach and Orange County

As acupuncture becomes more popular in places like Newport Beach and Orange County, it is the practitioners’ job to make sure that side effects are kept to a minimum and that treatments work as well as possible. Practitioners can lessen the side effects of acupuncture and make it more effective by carefully screening patients, giving each one individualized care, using high-quality needles, teaching patients the right way to do things, and keeping track of their progress. Focusing on the safety and comfort of your patients will help you build trust and keep acupuncture as a highly effective and well-respected treatment method in your business. By proactively lowering side effects, you not only make patients happier, but you also raise the level of care you provide to a higher level that is safe and successful.