TCM Practices That Should Not Be Tried at Home Without Training
Which Chinese medicine practices carry real risks of burns, infection, bruising or herb harm, why trained care matters, and which gentle practices are low risk, with no do-it-yourself steps.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Why this page exists
Videos and kits make Chinese medicine practices look simple. Some are low risk. Others involve flame, suction, broken skin, needles or herbs, and the risks in medical reports come from those. This page tells you which is which. It deliberately gives no instructions for doing any of them at home. If you want to try one, use a trained, licensed practitioner where your area has licensing, and tell your doctor.Practices that need training, in plain terms
| Practice | What a practitioner does (general) | Risks in the sources | Evidence | At home? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture needling | Inserts sterile single-use needles | Complications have resulted from nonsterile needles and improper delivery; serious problems include infections, punctured organs and nervous system injury. In the US the FDA regulates the needles as medical devices that must be sterile and single-use. [1] | See What Is Acupuncture? | No |
| Moxibustion | Burns a dried herb close to the skin | A review found allergic reactions, burns and infections such as cellulitis and hepatitis C; trials reported blistering, smoke discomfort and flare-ups. Moxibustion "is not entirely risk free", and the true rate is unknown. [2] | Limited. For breech presentation, a Cochrane review found limited evidence. [3] See Moxibustion | No |
| Fire cupping and wet cupping | Creates suction with a cup warmed by flame or attached to a pump; wet cupping pierces the skin | NCCIH lists persistent discoloration, scars, burns and infections, a possible worsening of eczema or psoriasis, and rare scalp bleeding inside the skull or anemia after repeated wet cupping. Shared equipment can spread hepatitis B and C. [4] | NCCIH: some research, mostly low quality; evidence for pain not very strong. [4] See Cupping Therapy | No |
| Gua sha scraping | Rubs the skin with a tool until marks (petechiae or bruising) appear | The technique intentionally raises petechiae and ecchymosis (small and larger skin bleeds). [5] | A review for perimenopausal symptoms found preliminary evidence but low methodological quality. [6] See Gua Sha | No to marking the skin |
| Herbal formulas and patent medicines | Prescribes combinations suited to the person | NCCIH: some Chinese herbal products were contaminated with toxic compounds, heavy metals, pesticides and microorganisms, and herb mix-ups have caused serious complications. [7] | Mixed results. See Chinese herbal medicine | No self-prescribing |
Finding trained care
Rules differ by place. For example, in England the NHS says that apart from chiropractors and osteopaths, complementary therapists need not be registered by law, and advises a professional body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [8] For the US see NCCAOM certification and state licensing and how to choose a TCM practitioner. This site does not list practitioners.Frequently asked questions
Is moxibustion safe to do at home?
No. Reviews describe burns, allergic reactions, infections and smoke irritation, and the rate of problems is unknown. [2] Ask a trained practitioner instead.
Can I do cupping at home?
We do not give home instructions. NCCIH lists burns, scars, infections and rare serious bleeding, and says contaminated equipment can spread hepatitis. [4]
Is gua sha dangerous?
It intentionally raises small skin bleeds and bruising, which is part of the technique. [5] Evidence for benefit is limited. [6] See Facial gua sha and tools.
Which Chinese medicine practices are safe at home?
The lowest-risk ones are gentle movement classes such as qigong and, for nausea, light pressure with a band. [9][10] None replaces medical care.
Can I buy Chinese herbs online and take them myself?
Herb safety depends on quality and on your medicines and health. NCCIH warns of contamination and mix-ups. [7] See Buying Chinese herbs safely and ask a clinician or pharmacist.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Why the risks are higher than they look
- Skin is the barrier. Burns, blisters, broken skin and infection are the common injuries. The NHS lists a skin condition, skin infection, blood thinning medicine or increased bleeding risk among the reasons acupuncture may not be safe, and similar questions apply to the other practices. [8]
- Equipment can carry infection. Shared cups, needles or tools can spread bloodborne disease. [4]
- Pregnancy. Reports from moxibustion trials include premature birth, premature rupture of membranes and bleeding in pregnant women. [2] Pregnant people should not experiment. See TCM in pregnancy and Who should avoid moxibustion, cupping and gua sha.
- Marks can be misread. NCCIH advises that the origin of cupping marks be explained to health care providers so they are not mistaken for signs of physical abuse. [4] See also what cupping marks mean.
- Effect is not proven. Low evidence quality does not justify accepting injury for a possible small benefit. [4]
Lower-risk practices
These are generally gentle and widely taught in classes:
- Tai chi and qigong. NCCIH says qigong appears to be a safe form of activity. [9] Learn from a class where a teacher can adapt movements; see Baduanjin, Wuqinxi and other Chinese movement practices, Tai Chi and Qigong.
- Acupressure with a band or fingers for nausea. The NHS mentions it as something to try for morning sickness, with some evidence, and notes you should call your midwife or doctor if you cannot keep fluids down for 24 hours or have other warning signs. [10] See Acupressure.
When to get help
Seek medical care for burns, blistering, spreading redness, pus, fever, severe bleeding, a new lump, or any severe reaction after a TCM treatment or herb. If someone may have swallowed a toxic substance, see Poisoning: what to do first; in the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222. For reporting, see reporting problems with Chinese herbs or treatment.
References
- NCCIH. Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- Park JE et al. Adverse events of moxibustion: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med (2010). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- Coyle ME et al. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2012). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Cupping, last updated November 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
- Nielsen A et al. The effect of Gua Sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: a pilot study in healthy subjects. Explore (2007). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- Ren Q et al. Effects of Gua Sha therapy on perimenopausal syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract (2018). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Qigong: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.