Two surveys conducted independently of each other and published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 concluded that the risk of a serious adverse reaction to acupuncture is less than 1 in 10,000.

A total of 66,000 treatments were reviewed in both surveys, one of traditional acupuncturists and the other of doctors who practise acupuncture, with only a handful of minor and transient side effects.

A 2003 patient survey of 6,000 acupuncture patients revealed almost identical figures.

There are very few side effects from acupuncture when practised by a fully qualified practitioner of traditional acupuncture. The needles used are ultra-fine, single-use, sterile and disposable and any side effects, such as dizziness or bruising around needle points, are mild and self-correcting.

When you are treated by a BAcC registered acupuncturist you can be confident that your wellbeing and safety is at the core of everything your practitioner does. The following assurances are BAcC standard practice:

• your BAcC registered acupuncturist will set up a 'clean field' for needles and other equipment
• needles are individually wrapped in sterile packaging and are used only once
• used needles are deposited in a sharps box to be collected by an authorised carrier and safely disposed of as clinical waste
• the treatment couch is covered with fresh paper couch roll for each patient, and used couch roll is disposed of as clinical waste
• your practitioner will wash their hands several times before, during and after your treatment
• all BAcC members have completed a first degree level training, or the equivalent, in traditional acupuncture including appropriate elements of western anatomy, physiology and pathology
• all BAcC members have full medical malpractice and public/products liability insurance cover
• our formal complaints and disciplinary procedures promote the highest standards of patient care