Acupuncture is Complementary Medicine

In its theoretical foundations, acupuncture offers an alternative to the conventional medical view of disease and healing, but in its practice acupuncture is a true complementary therapy, working well alongside many conventional medical treatments and serving as a support for patients receiving medical care. 

There are many ways in which acupuncture can serve as a complement to conventional medical treatments: 

• Acupuncture is a drug free therapy that will not conflict with prescription medication or create unpredictable drug interactions 
• Acupuncture can enhance the effectiveness of prescription medication by 
• helping with absorption and elimination of medications 
• helping medications reach their target areas 
• reducing side effects of medications, such as the long term effects of antibiotics on the digestive system 
• Acupuncture can enhance the effectiveness of surgical procedures by 
• preparing patients who are awaiting surgery, strengthening immune and digestive functioning and calming a patient’s mental state 
•  supporting patients following surgery, reducing the risk of complications and infections, helping the body eliminate drugs used for anaesthesia, reducing pain and speeding up tissue regeneration 
• Acupuncture can be done distally, so the placement of needles can be away from problem areas in the body, avoiding conflicts with local treatments, surgical scars, open wounds, inflamed tissues, broken bones and bandages 
• Acupuncture can be done when one is awaiting diagnostic testing or waiting to receive a medical diagnosis 
• Acupuncture can be of therapeutic benefit when a condition is deemed not medically serious enough to warrant a strong medical intervention 
• Acupuncture can treat symptoms even when the cause is unknown or when there is no medical agreement on the diagnosis 
• Acupuncture can help reduce the stress experienced when a patient is overwhelmed by the complexities and uncertainties of his or her medical care

Many family doctors and medical specialists are open to their patients receiving acupuncture alongside their medically prescribed treatments. Acupuncturists in Ontario are regulated health professionals who can be in communication with a patient’s medical team, advising them on the nature of the acupuncture treatments being given and providing them with updates on their patients’ progress.