Usually there are no serious side-effects from acupuncture. After the first few treatments, patients commonly experience a feeling of deep relaxation or even mild disorientation. There may also be a change in emotional state. All of these effects pass within a short time and are easily overcome. Anything can be treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture is often effective in areas where conventional medicine comes up short.
Yes, the most common form is auricular therapy, which is electrical stimulation of the over 200 acupuncture points of the ear. Also, there is acupressure, which entails manual pressure on the acupuncture points. Acupuncture is used effectively on cats, dogs, horses, and other animals that cannot understand the concept. However, a positive attitude towards acupuncture, or any other treatment, may reinforce the treatment's effectiveness. The number of treatments vary with each case.