What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a technique in which Acupuncturists insert fine solid needles into the skin to treat various kinds of symptoms and diseases. The needles may be manipulated manually or stimulated with low electrical currents (electroacupuncture). Acupuncture has been used over 2,500 years. It is one of the most popular components of traditional Chinese medicine worldwide since the 1970s.

什么是针灸？

针灸是一种针灸师将细小的实心针插入皮肤的穴位以治疗各种症状和疾病的技术。针灸可以手法操作，也可以接低电流刺激（电针）。针灸已有2500多年的历史。自20世纪70年代以来，它一直是全球最受欢迎的中医组成部分之一。

How widely is acupuncture used?

According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture is used in 103 of 129 countries that reported data.

In the United States, data from the National Health Interview Survey show that the use of acupuncture by U.S. adults more than doubled between 2002 and 2022. In 2002, 1.0 percent of U.S. adults used acupuncture; in 2022, 2.2 percent used it. 

针灸的应用范围有多广？

根据世界卫生组织的数据，在129个有数据报告的国家中，有103个国家使用针灸。

在美国，国家健康访谈调查的数据显示，2002年至2022年间，美国成年人使用针灸的人数增加了一倍多。2002年，1.0%的美国成年人使用针灸；2022年，2.2%的人使用针灸。

What is acupuncture used for?

The World Health Organization held a meeting in Milan, Italy in 1996 and proposed 64 acupuncture indications:

1. Respiratory system diseases: allergic rhinitis; sinusitis; rhinitis; cold; tonsillitis; acute and chronic pharyngitis; bronchitis; bronchial asthma.

2. Eye diseases: acute conjunctivitis; central retinitis; myopia; cataracts.

3. Oral diseases: toothache; pain after tooth extraction; gingivitis.

4. Gastrointestinal system diseases: esophageal and cardia achalasia; reflux; gastroptosis; acute and chronic gastritis; gastric fissure; chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief); simple acute duodenal ulcer; acute and chronic colitis; acute (chronic) bacillary dysentery; constipation; diarrhea; intestinal paralysis.

5. Nerve, muscle and bone diseases: headache; migraine; trigeminal neuralgia; facial nerve paralysis; mild paralysis after stroke; peripheral nerve disease; sequelae of poliomyelitis. Meniere’s syndrome; neurogenic bladder dysfunction; enuresis; intercostal neuralgia; cervical-brachial syndrome; shoulder coagulation; tennis elbow; sciatica; low back pain; arthritis; cerebral palsy in children.

However, National survey data indicate that in the United States, acupuncture is most commonly used for various kinds of pain, such as back, neck pain, migraine, arthritis, period pain, etc.

针灸的适应症是什么？

世界卫生组织于1996年在意大利米兰召开会议，提出了64种针灸适应症：

1. 呼吸系统疾病：过敏性鼻炎；鼻窦炎；鼻炎；感冒；扁桃体炎；急慢性咽炎；支气管炎；支气管哮喘。

2. 眼部疾病：急性结膜炎；中心性视网膜炎；近视；白内障。

3. 口腔疾病：牙痛；拔牙后疼痛；牙龈炎。

4. 胃肠道疾病：食管贲门失弛缓症；反流病；胃下垂；急慢性胃炎；胃裂；慢性十二指肠溃疡（止痛）；单纯性急性十二指肠溃疡；急慢性结肠炎；急（慢性）细菌性痢疾；便秘；腹泻；肠麻痹。

5. 神经、肌肉和骨骼疾病：头痛；偏头痛；三叉神经痛；面神经麻痹；中风后轻度瘫痪；周围神经疾病；脊髓灰质炎后遗症；梅尼埃综合征；神经性膀胱功能障碍；遗尿症；肋间神经痛；颈臂综合征；肩周炎；网球肘；坐骨神经痛；腰痛；关节炎；儿童脑瘫。

在全美国调查数据表明，针灸最常用于治疗各种疼痛，例如背痛、颈痛、偏头痛、关节炎、痛经等。

How does acupuncture work scientifically?

How acupuncture works is not fully understood. However, there’s evidence that acupuncture may have effects on the nervous system, effects on other body tissues, and internal organs. 

    • Studies in animals and people, including studies that used imaging methods to see what’s happening in the brain, have shown that acupuncture may affect nervous system function.

    • Acupuncture may have direct effects on the tissues where the needles are inserted. This type of effect has been seen in connective tissue.

    • Acupuncture has nonspecific effects (effects due to incidental aspects of a treatment rather than its main mechanism of action). Nonspecific effects may be due to the patient’s belief in the treatment, the relationship between the practitioner and the patient, or other factors not directly caused by the insertion of needles. In many studies, the benefit of acupuncture has been greater when it was compared with no treatment than when it was compared with sham (simulated or fake) acupuncture procedures, such as the use of a device that pokes the skin but does not penetrate it. These findings suggest that nonspecific effects contribute to the beneficial effect of acupuncture on pain or other symptoms. 

    • In recent research, a nonspecific effect was demonstrated in a unique way: Patients who had experienced pain relief during a previous acupuncture session were shown a video of that session and asked to imagine the treatment happening again. This video-guided imagery technique had a significant pain-relieving effect.

针灸的科学原理是什么？

针灸的工作原理尚不完全清楚。然而，有证据表明针灸可能对神经系统、其他身体组织和内脏器官产生影响。

针对动物和人体的研究，包括使用成像方法观察脑部活动的研究，都表明针灸可能影响神经系统功能。

针灸可能对针刺入的组织产生直接影响。这种影响已在结缔组织中观察到。

针灸具有非特异性效应（由治疗的偶然因素而非其主要作用机制引起的效应）。非特异性效应可能源于患者对治疗的信任、医患关系或其他并非由针刺直接引起的因素。许多研究表明，与不治疗相比，针灸的益处大于假针灸（例如使用一种刺入皮肤但不穿透皮肤的器械）的益处。这些发现表明，非特异性效应有助于针灸对疼痛或其他症状产生有益作用。

最近的一项研究以一种独特的方式证明了一种非特异性的疗效：让在之前的针灸疗程中疼痛得到缓解的患者观看该疗程的视频，并让他们想象再次进行针灸治疗。这种视频引导的想象技术具有显著的止痛效果。

What does research show about the effectiveness of acupuncture for pain?

Research has shown that acupuncture may be helpful for several pain conditions, including back or neck pain, knee pain associated with osteoarthritis, and postoperative pain. It may also help relieve joint pain associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors, which are drugs used in people with breast cancer. 

An analysis of data from 20 studies (6,376 participants) of people with painful conditions (back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, or headaches) showed that the beneficial effects of acupuncture continued for a year after the end of treatment for all conditions except neck pain.

Back or Neck Pain
Osteoarthritis
Headache and Migraine
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Sciatica
Postoperative Pain
Cancer Pain
Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fibromyalgia

研究表明针灸对疼痛的疗效如何？

研究表明，针灸可能有助于缓解多种疼痛症状，包括背痛或颈痛、与骨关节炎相关的膝关节疼痛以及术后疼痛。它也可能有助于缓解与芳香化酶抑制剂相关的关节疼痛，芳香化酶抑制剂是用于治疗乳腺癌患者的药物。

一项对20项研究（6,376名参与者）中疼痛症状患者（背痛、骨关节炎、颈痛或头痛）的数据分析表明，除颈痛外，针灸对其他所有疼痛症状的疗效在治疗结束后可持续一年。

背痛或颈痛

骨关节炎

头痛和偏头痛

肌筋膜疼痛综合征

坐骨神经痛

术后疼痛

癌痛

慢性前列腺炎/慢性盆腔疼痛综合征

肠易激综合征

纤维肌痛

What does research show about acupuncture for conditions other than pain?

In addition to pain conditions, acupuncture has also been studied for at least 50 other health problems. There is evidence that acupuncture may help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, stress incontinence in women, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment. It may also help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life in people with asthma, but it has not been shown to improve lung function.

Seasonal Allergies (Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever)

Urinary Incontinence

Treatment-Related Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients

Asthma

Depression

Quitting Smoking

Infertility

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hot Flashes Associated With Menopause

除了疼痛之外，针灸对其他疾病的疗效如何？

除了疼痛之外，针灸在治疗其他疾病方面有何研究成果？

除了疼痛之外，针灸还被研究用于至少 50 种其他健康问题。有证据表明，针灸可能有助于缓解季节性过敏症状、女性压力性尿失禁以及癌症治疗相关的恶心呕吐。针灸也可能有助于缓解哮喘患者的症状并改善生活质量，但尚未证实其能够改善肺功能。

季节性过敏（过敏性鼻炎或花粉症）

尿失禁

癌症患者治疗相关的恶心呕吐

哮喘

抑郁症

戒烟

不孕症

腕管综合征

更年期相关潮热

What is auricular acupuncture good for?

Auricular acupuncture is a type of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of the ear. 

Research on auricular acupuncture for chronic back pain and cancer pain has had promising results.

In a 2019 review of 15 studies (930 participants) of auricular acupuncture or auricular acupressure (a form of auricular therapy that does not involve penetration with needles), the treatment significantly reduced pain intensity, and 80 percent of the individual studies showed favorable effects on various measures related to pain.

A 2020 review of 9 studies (783 participants) of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain showed that auricular acupuncture produced better pain relief than sham auricular acupuncture. Also, pain relief was better with a combination of auricular acupuncture and drug therapy than with drug therapy alone.

耳针疗法有何益处？

耳针疗法是一种刺激耳部特定区域的针灸疗法。

耳针疗法治疗慢性背痛和癌痛的研究已取得令人欣喜的成果。

2019 年的一项回顾性研究纳入了 15 项关于耳针或耳穴按压（一种无需针刺的耳穴疗法）的研究（930 名参与者），结果表明耳针疗法显著降低了疼痛强度，并且 80% 的独立研究显示耳针疗法对各种疼痛相关指标均有良好疗效。

2020 年的一项回顾性研究纳入了 9 项关于耳针疗法治疗癌痛的研究（783 名参与者），结果表明耳针疗法比假耳针疗法缓解疼痛的效果更佳。此外，耳针疗法联合药物治疗的疼痛缓解效果优于单纯药物治疗。

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is generally considered safe when administered by a qualified, licensed practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks, especially if proper protocols are not followed.Wikipedia

Safety Profile

When performed correctly, acupuncture is associated with minimal side effects. Common, mild reactions may include:

    • Temporary soreness or bruising at needle insertion sites;

    • Lightheadedness or fatigue following treatment;

Serious complications are rare but can occur, particularly when treatments are administered improperly. These may include:

    • Infections resulting from non-sterile needles

    • Punctured organs or collapsed lungs due to incorrect needle placement;

    • Nerve injuries.

Such adverse events are typically linked to unlicensed or inadequately trained practitioners.

针灸安全吗？

由合格的执业医师使用一次性无菌针头进行针灸通常被认为是安全的。然而，与任何医疗程序一样，针灸也存在潜在风险，尤其是在未遵循正确操作规程的情况下。

安全性

正确操作后，针灸的副作用极小。常见的轻微反应可能包括：

针刺部位暂时性酸痛或瘀伤；

治疗后头晕或疲劳；

严重并发症罕见，但也可能出现，尤其是在治疗不当的情况下。这些并发症可能包括：

非无菌针头导致的感染

针头放置不当导致的器官刺破或肺塌陷；

神经损伤。

此类不良事件通常与无证或培训不足的从业人员有关。

Is Acupuncture Covered by Insurance?

Private Insurance: Major insurers like Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Anthem (now Elevance Health) often cover acupuncture for specific conditions such as chronic pain, migraines, and nausea. Coverage specifics depend on individual plans and state regulations.

Medicare: Covers acupuncture for chronic low back pain, defined as pain lasting 12 weeks or longer without a known cause. Beneficiaries are eligible for up to 12 sessions in 90 days, with an additional 8 sessions if improvement is observed, totaling a maximum of 20 sessions per year. 

Medicaid: Coverage varies by state. As of 2021, states like Oregon and Minnesota include acupuncture in their Medicaid programs. Other states may offer coverage under optional benefits, particularly for chronic pain management. 

针灸在保险范围内吗？

私人保险：Aetna、Cigna、UnitedHealthcare 和 Anthem（现为 Elevance Health）等主要保险公司通常会承保针对特定疾病（例如慢性疼痛、偏头痛和恶心）的针灸治疗。具体承保范围取决于个人计划和州法规。

联邦医疗保险：承保针灸治疗慢性腰痛，慢性腰痛是指持续 12 周或更长时间且原因不明的疼痛。受益人可在 90 天内接受最多 12 次针灸治疗，如果症状改善，可额外接受 8 次针灸治疗，每年最多可接受 20 次针灸治疗。

医疗补助 (Medicaid)：覆盖范围因州而异。截至 2021 年，俄勒冈州和明尼苏达州等州已将针灸纳入其医疗补助计划。其他州可能提供可选福利，尤其针对慢性疼痛管理。

Do Acupuncturists Need to Be Licensed?

Yes, most states require acupuncturists to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary but typically include:

    • Education: Completion of an accredited acupuncture program.

    • Certification: Passing the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam.

    • State Licensure: Meeting specific state requirements, which may include additional exams or training. medicalacupuncture.org

Some states allow licensed medical professionals, such as physicians or chiropractors, to practice acupuncture without additional certification. 

针灸师需要执照吗？

是的，大多数州都要求针灸师持有执照。执照要求各不相同，但通常包括：

教育背景：完成经认可的针灸课程。

认证：通过国家针灸和东方医学认证委员会 (NCCAOM) 的考试。

州执照：满足特定州的要求，其中可能包括额外的考试或培训。medicalacupuncture.org

一些州允许持有执照的医疗专业人员（例如内科医生或脊椎按摩师）无需额外认证即可行医。

 For More Information

    • NCCIH Clearinghouse: Provides information on complementary and integrative health approaches.

        • Website: nccih.nih.gov

        • Email: info@nccih.nih.gov

    •  

NCCIH-Funded Research

NCCIH funds research to evaluate acupuncture’s effectiveness for various kinds of pain and other conditions and to further understand how the body responds to acupuncture and how acupuncture might work. Some recent NCCIH-supported studies involve:

    • Evaluating the feasibility of using acupuncture in hospital emergency departments.

    • Testing whether the effect of acupuncture on chronic low-back pain can be enhanced by combining it with transcranial direct current stimulation.

    • Evaluating a portable acupuncture-based nerve stimulation treatment for anxiety disorders.

More To Consider

    • Don’t use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.

    • Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

For More Information

NCCIH Clearinghouse

The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226

Telecommunications relay service (TRS): 7-1-1

Website: https://www.nccih.nih.gov

Email: info@nccih.nih.gov

Know the Science

NCCIH and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide tools to help you understand the basics and terminology of scientific research so you can make well-informed decisions about your health. Know the Science features a variety of materials, including interactive modules, quizzes, and videos, as well as links to informative content from Federal resources designed to help consumers make sense of health information.

Explaining How Research Works (NIH)

Know the Science: How To Make Sense of a Scientific Journal Article

Understanding Clinical Studies (NIH)

PubMed®

A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. For guidance from NCCIH on using PubMed, see How To Find Information About Complementary Health Practices on PubMed.

Website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

NIH Clinical Research Trials and You

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You, to help people learn about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. The site includes questions and answers about clinical trials, guidance on how to find clinical trials through ClinicalTrials.gov and other resources, and stories about the personal experiences of clinical trial participants. Clinical trials are necessary to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.

Website: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you

Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results (RePORTER)

RePORTER is a database of information on federally funded scientific and medical research projects being conducted at research institutions.

Website: https://reporter.nih.gov

更多信息

NCCIH 信息中心：提供补充和综合健康方法的信息。

网站：nccih.nih.gov

邮箱：info@nccih.nih.gov

NCCIH 资助的研究

NCCIH 资助的研究旨在评估针灸对各种疼痛和其他疾病的疗效，并进一步了解人体对针灸的反应以及针灸的可能作用机制。近期 NCCIH 资助的一些研究包括：

评估在医院急诊科使用针灸的可行性。

测试针灸与经颅直流电刺激相结合是否可以增强其对慢性腰痛的疗效。

评估一种基于针灸的便携式神经刺激疗法，用于治疗焦虑症。

更多注意事项

不要用针灸来推迟就医。

掌控您的健康——与您的医疗保健提供者讨论您使用的任何补充健康方法。携手合作，共同做出明智的决定。

更多信息

NCCIH 信息中心

NCCIH 信息中心提供有关 NCCIH 以及补充和整合健康方法的信息，包括出版物以及联邦科学和医学文献数据库的检索。信息中心不提供医疗建议、治疗推荐或转诊。

美国境内免费电话：1-888-644-6226

电信中继服务 (TRS)：7-1-1

网站：https://www.nccih.nih.gov

邮箱：info@nccih.nih.gov

了解科学

NCCIH 和美国国立卫生研究院 (NIH) 提供工具，帮助您了解科学研究的基础知识和术语，以便您做出明智的健康决策。 “了解科学”提供各种资料，包括互动模块、测验和视频，以及来自联邦资源的丰富信息内容链接，旨在帮助消费者理解健康信息。

解释研究运作方式 (NIH)

了解科学：如何理解科学期刊文章

理解临床研究 (NIH)

PubMed®

PubMed® 是美国国家医学图书馆 (NCCIH) 的一项服务，包含出版信息以及（大多数情况下）科学和医学期刊文章的简要摘要。有关 NCCIH 关于使用 PubMed 的指导，请参阅“如何在 PubMed 上查找有关补充医疗实践的信息”。

网址：https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

NIH 临床研究试验与您

美国国立卫生研究院 (NIH) 创建了一个名为“NIH 临床研究试验与您”的网站，旨在帮助人们了解临床试验、其重要性以及如何参与。该网站提供临床试验相关问答、如何通过 ClinicalTrials.gov 和其他资源查找临床试验的指南，以及临床试验参与者的个人经历。临床试验对于寻找预防、诊断和治疗疾病的更佳方法至关重要。

网址：https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you

研究组合在线报告工具：支出与结果 (RePORTER)

RePORTER 是一个数据库，其中包含由联邦政府资助的研究机构开展的科学和医学研究项目的信息。

网址：https://reporter.nih.gov

Key References

    •  on February 12, 2021.

    •  on February 12, 2021.

    •  on February 17, 2021.

主要参考文献

Befus D, Coeytaux RR, Goldstein KM 等。《针灸治疗更年期症状：一项总体系统综述和荟萃分析》。《替代与补充医学杂志》。2018;24(4):314-323。

Bleck R, Marquez E, Gold MA 等。美国针灸保险覆盖范围的审查。《针灸医学》。2020;964528420964214。

Briggs JP, Shurtleff D。针灸与身心之间的复杂联系。《美国医学会杂志》。2017;317(24):2489-2490。

Brinkhaus B, Roll S, Jena S 等。针灸治疗过敏性哮喘：一项随机实用性试验。《替代与补充医学杂志》。2017;23(4):268-277。

Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY 等。针灸安全性：系统综述概述。《科学报告》。2017;7(1):3369。

Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K 等。针灸对比安慰剂针灸在体外受精中的应用：一项系统综述和荟萃分析。《针灸医学》。2021;39(1):20-29。

Hershman DL, Unger JM, Greenlee H 等。针灸对比假针灸或候补对照对早期乳腺癌女性芳香化酶抑制剂相关关节疼痛的疗效：一项随机临床试验。《美国医学会杂志》。2018;320(2):167-176。

Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B 等。针灸预防发作性偏头痛。Cochrane系统评价数据库。2016;(6):CD001218。访问 cochranelibrary.com

外部链接政策链接

2021年2月12日

Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B 等。针灸预防紧张型头痛。Cochrane 系统评价数据库。20