OTHER PAIN TREATMENTS: ADVANTAGES OF ACUPUNCTURE
The advantages of acupuncture therapy are that it is simple and safe. It is free from any risk of AIDS or hepatitis, provided acupuncture therapy is given by properly qualified practitioners. All doctors practising acupuncture now use sterilisation techniques identical with those used to sterilise surgical instruments. Many practitioners use single use or disposable acupuncture needles to overcome their lack of sterilising facilities.
Unfortunately, Australia still has no legal restrictions on who can practice acupuncture — and how well they have to sterilise their needles.
Acupuncture should only be practised by a properly qualified medical practitioner. That is, someone able to make a proper medical diagnosis before using acupuncture, which is a treatment used in China only by trained practitioners.
There are no risks or disadvantages to the use of laser acupuncture as there is no penetration of the skin and no side-effects.
Acupuncture’s only real disadvantage is that it may be associated with a certain degree of discomfort as well as the more common side-effects of slight bruising and occasional fainting. There are no absolute reasons not to use acupuncture — though some practitioners will not perform acupuncture on patients taking cortisone-type drugs or with certain physical complications such as severe acne.
Acupuncture can be performed by many general practitioners trained through the excellent courses run in the various states of Australia for medical practitioners. Acupuncture costs vary from practitioner to practitioner.
Most doctors charge approximately $25 to $40 per treatment, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $17. Treatments will normally be performed either weekly or every two to three weeks until a response is established.
A list of doctors practising acupuncture can be obtained from the state branches of the Australian Medical Acupuncture Society.
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