The ancient Chinese art of healing-acupuncture; is experiencing rapid adoption in the United States and other parts of the developed world. The healing works on the belief that energy flows through meridians found in the body. Discomfort, pain or illness occurs when the channels are blocked. Needles are used to unblock and revive the flow of chi in this alternative form of medicine. Despite the rapid adoption of Smithtown acupuncture, certain problems have been reported regarding its use and implementation.

Quite a number of patients experience minor discomfort after treatment. The immediate side effects of acupuncture include; hot flushes, vomiting, headaches, dizziness and soreness at the point of entry. The specialists acknowledge some of these side effects even though they vary from one patient to the other. The discomfort is popularly explained with the analogy of a kinked hose pipe and the resultant buildup of pressure.

Unfortunately, some sessions of treatment result in pneumothorax. This is a deadly medical condition whereby the lungs collapse, leaving the patient unable to breathe. If not quickly attended to, the patient may suffocate and die. In case of pneumothorax, use of an asthma inhaler, re-inflation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be the only ways to save the life of the diseased person.

One of the biggest risks of attempting this form of treatment is the chance of infection. The method involves sticking needles through the skin. This is highly risky since the skin is not only an on organ itself, but also the protective cover for other organs. Through penetration using steel needles, there is a chance of bacterial infection. Furthermore, it exposes the patient to diseases such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency syndrome.

This form of treatment has faced severe criticism from medical practitioners who work on the basis of scientific evidence. Not much research has been put into the field and clear information regarding its abilities is limited. Some traditional healers make dubious claims regarding the range of ailments that they can heal. As a result, the field has been linked to the use of magic and occult belief.

Most countries lack a reputable authority that governs the practice of alternative medicine. This means that the genre lacks a rigid mechanism for registration, licensing, techniques of practitioners. This results in varying standards of practice from one state to the other. In addition, this mode of treatment is not covered in Medicare.

Since the treatment is highly subjective, there exists a problem of diagnosis variability. This means that it is possible to be diagnosed with different ailments by different practitioners. Under such circumstances, treatment is varied depending on the opinion of the specialist. The lack of objectivity is a major hurdle to the successful implementation of this treatment.

In spite of its rising popularity, Smithtown acupuncture still faces a couple of challenges. It is therefore necessary to get advice from a specialist in the field of alternative medicine before embarking on this form of treatment. The internet is also a good source of information regarding this topic.