Coordinating Acupuncture With Your Medical Care

Acupuncture works best as one part of your care

NCCIH reports that in the United States it is most commonly used for pain such as back, joint or neck pain. [1] The same agency gives two plain pieces of advice that frame this page: do not use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem, and talk with your health care providers about any complementary approaches you use. [1]

Tell everyone involved

NCCIH asks people to tell all their health care providers about any complementary approaches they use and about all practitioners treating them. [2] Giving a full picture of what you do to manage your health helps ensure coordinated and safe care. [3] The NHS gives the same instruction: tell any doctor or healthcare professional treating you if you are using a complementary therapy. [4]

In both directions this means:

• To your doctor, nurse or pharmacist: that you are having acupuncture, how often, and for what.


• To your acupuncturist: every diagnosis, every medicine (including over-the-counter drugs and supplements), recent surgery, and pregnancy or the chance of it. The NHS says to tell your therapist if you have any medical conditions, are taking any medicines or are receiving other treatments. [4]

Things your medical team may want to weigh in on

The NHS lists situations where acupuncture may not be safe: taking blood-thinning medicine or being at increased risk of bleeding, and having a skin condition or skin infection. [4] NCCIH notes that when acupuncture is not delivered properly it can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system. [1] Details are on side effects and precautions, bleeding and blood thinners and pacemakers and electroacupuncture. Pregnancy has its own page: acupuncture in pregnancy.

Do not stop or change medicines on your own

The NHS says not to stop taking any prescribed medicine without first talking to your doctor. [4] If an acupuncturist suggests you reduce a medicine, take that suggestion to your prescriber first.

Checking that your practitioner will cooperate

NCCIH suggests finding out whether the practitioner is willing to work together with your conventional providers, because for safe, coordinated care all the professionals involved need to communicate and cooperate. [2] Ask directly whether they will communicate with your doctor, with your permission. A practitioner who discourages you from seeing your doctor is a red flag; see red flags in acupuncture practice.

Symptoms that should not wait

Acupuncture should not stand in for diagnosis. The NHS advises asking a GP about symptoms that do not go away or keep coming back, rather than just talking to a therapist. [4] For an emergency in the United States, call 911. Warning signs after a session are covered in warning signs after acupuncture.

How the health system sees it

Some systems offer acupuncture within care for specific problems. The NHS says it may offer acupuncture for long-term pain, migraine-type headaches or severe hiccups. [4] In the U.S., Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low-back pain, according to NCCIH (read October 2022 edition). [1] Insurance varies; NCCIH tells people not to assume that their plan will pay and to ask first. [2] More on coordinating complementary and medical care and what to ask before starting.