If you have a pacemaker, are at risk of infection, have chronic skin problems, are pregnant, or have breast or other implants, it is important to inform your doctor before receiving acupuncture. This is because the treatment can be risky to your health if these issues are not mentioned. It is also important to not rely on a diagnosis of a disease by an acupuncture professional. Instead, it is best to talk to your healthcare provider, friends, and family for advice.
They may be able to refer you to a certified or licensed provider. Acupuncturists do not need to be doctors in order to practice acupuncture or be certified. In fact, many states have established training standards for acupuncture certification. However, not all states require acupuncturists to obtain a license in order to practice.
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture can provide a list of people who practice acupuncture. The current practice of acupuncture involves placing fine needles in the skin at certain points on a meridian. It is important that the acupuncturist knows about the pacemaker, where it is implanted, and why it was needed (even if it is not specific to the purpose of this particular visit). A case study suggests that electroacupuncture (EA) could be a safe alternative for patients with pacemakers, confirming current recommendations for use.
The only treatment that seemed to have any positive effect, but of extremely short duration, was acupuncture. Although scientific studies have not fully explained how acupuncture works within the framework of Western medicine, many people feel better after undergoing acupuncture treatments with a pacemaker. EA is commonly used to relieve pain and has been found to have good results even in cases of persistent chronic pain. Acupuncturists believe that the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected through various meridians and that using acupuncture at certain points on the meridians can improve the flow of blocked or stagnant qi.
However, published reports suggest that EA should not be used in patients with pacemakers as there is a theoretical risk that the pacemaker will not work properly.
