Study shows acupuncture safe for children

 　　WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The use of acupuncture¹ for children is common and acupuncture is generally safe for children when performed by "appropriately trained practitioners," Canadian researchers reported Monday in online journal Pediatrics.

　　Researchers at the University of Alberta looked at data from 37 studies of needle acupuncture, spanning 60 years, on children from birth to age 17, and assessed the association between needle acupuncture and various levels of adverse² events in children. They found that of 279 adverse events identified, 253 were mild, one was moderate and 25 were serious.

　　Serious side effects included bleeding, infections, and heart and lung problems. One child may have contracted HIV. But the researchers said the serious side effects were related to substandard conditions from the care provider, rather than acupuncture's technique itself. They concluded that in trained hands, pediatric acupuncture is safe.

　　Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and traditional Chinese theory suggests needle placement helps balance the body's energy flow, called "qi". Acupuncture is sometimes used to treat headaches, migraines, back and joint³ pains, cramps⁴, and chemotherapy-induced nausea⁵. Estimates show 150,000 U.S. children undergo acupuncture each year.

1 acupuncture   

n.针灸，针刺法，针疗法

参考例句：

• Written records show that acupuncture dates back to the Song Dynasty.文字记载表明，宋朝就已经有了针灸。
• It's known that acupuncture originated in China.众所周知，针灸起源于中国。

2 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 cramps   

n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚

参考例句：

• If he cramps again let the line cut him off. 要是它再抽筋，就让这钓索把它勒断吧。
• "I have no cramps." he said. “我没抽筋，"他说。

5 nausea   

n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶)

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。