For centuries, Eastern medicinal practices have touted the benefits to the human body of acupuncture. For many people, the thought of having such a procedure done on their own bodies is crazy, especially considering the amount of criticism that is given to the practice's legitimacy as well that the amount of negative press the procedure gets in the popular media. Many people don't know what you can expect from the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits.

However, the procedures of Chinese acupuncture are well refined, having been practiced for many years, and even today, the practice is found to be a safe procedure and has been proven to provide some people with relief to symptoms of disorders that they have been saddled with for years. Here is a basic look at what you can expect from the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits:

Sterile needles, made almost exclusively today from stainless steel, are used in the beginning of the acupuncture procedure. These needles are sterilized with Ethylene Oxide, which also functions to preserve the needle's construction. The acupuncturist is able to get a secure grip on the needles during their placement on the body because they have a wire coating.

While referencing a model of acupuncturing that usually includes a reference of the human body and the insertion locations of needles in the skin based on the type of treatment, the acupuncturist will begin to puncture the person's skin. A cluster of a few dozen needles in one or two places on the body may be required for a particular type of treatment. A fully body treatment, which may involve the placement of hundreds of needles, may also be requested.

Moxibustion, a process in which the needles are heated after being placed in the skin, may also be required for some acupuncture treatments. The needles will be heated by the acupuncturist using burning herbs. It is common for the herbs to be located on the end of the needle extending from the skin and burned after the needle's insertion. The heat provides therapy to the tissue inside the body in contact with the needle.

Due to the nature of the treatment, acupuncture is considered an invasive treatment, and can come with some risks. The main risk of the treatment is minor bleeding from the site of puncture, seen in about 3 of every 100 patients. Often, this can be stopped within a minute of removal of the needle, but differs from patient to patient.

There are also some less common, but more serious, risks involved, such as hematoma, or bruising below the skin at the treatment site, dizziness arising from fear of needles or anxiety, very rare instances of nerve injury, brain damage, lung or kidney damage from mistakenly placed needles, and the slight chance of miscarriage in very specific treatment.

Acupuncture does benefit the body in many ways despite the risks. Common tension headaches, tension in lower back pains, nausea, vomiting, and some lower symptomatic forms of fibromyalgia can all be relieved using acupuncture. Acupuncture emerges as a reputable and reliable treatment option when considering both the understood and perceived benefits, such as stress and tension relief. As a patient, you can benefit greatly by understanding the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits involved.