tates as a condition of licensure.
Although there have been more studies on acupuncture than any other alternative health therapy, many of these studies were flawed or involved too few patients, but there is growing evidence that it may be useful for treating some forms of pain (Guide, 2003, 52). It is impossible to conduct double-blind controlled studies of acupuncture. The pros for acupuncture are that it is easy to learn the basics; it decreases analgesic use; it is relatively safe; it is popular with patients; and it often relieve pain unresponsive to conventional therapy. The cons are that there is a risk of infections such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, and bacterial endocarditis from improperly sterilized needles (though this is virtually eliminated by using disposable needles); there is a danger of causing pneumothorax; it can cause bleeding; needles can break in situ; and some patients can have an adverse response, such as fainting.
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