Standard textbooks of acupuncture warn against over-stimulation of these points and discuss the measures to be followed should weakness etc., occur. They are less likely to arise in humans if they are needled while lying down. Acupuncture by itself may be used to induce birth or to cause abortion from nineteen weeks of pregnancy onwards 12-20 . Standard textbooks warn against the use of these points in pregnant women, or advise special care and gentleness if they must be used for therapeutic purposes other than induction of birth or abortion. This is called needle lock , as the needle is somewhat difficult to extract.
Standard textbooks describe the methods to relax the muscle and to withdraw the locked needle.
It is a very minor problem. This complication does not arise if perfect needles are used. If the broken end cannot be grasped by a forceps or manoeuvred above the skin by mobilisation of the tissue, it must be removed surgically. It is very difficult to guarantee total sterilisation of equipment which may have been infected with these agents. Meanwhile, the cost of disposable acupuncture needles has fallen.