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[podcast]https://www.myhealthbeijing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/112307_CUT.mp3[/podcast]

How many parents have brought their child to acupuncture treatments? You may be interested in a big new research study last week which looked at all the best data — and found a 12% rate of “mild” adverse events from acupuncture. This systematic review, published in Pediatrics magazine, concluded that “that acupuncture is safe when performed by appropriately trained practitioners”. I actually don’t agree so much with that; on one hand, there’s still a 1% risk of severe adverse events such as a punctured lung. But I also think a 12% rate of mild events is still unacceptable when the benefits of treatments for acupuncture are so unclear. Where is the risk & benefit analysis here? And why would a parent subject their child to a poorly understood treatment when there’s even a small risk of serious adverse effects? You can hear more about this issue at my podcast at the above links.

More Podcast Information

You can always listen live to my radio interview each Wednesday around 7:35am Beijing time, on the Beijing Hour program on EZFM 91.5, which is broadcast from 7-8am every weekday by host Paul James. EZFM is the popular bilingual radio station on the China Radio International network, broadcasting here in Beijing and on multiple stations all over the world, as well as live online here.

You can listen to all my previous podcasts at the podcast archive.