NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- Although traditional Chinese complementary and alternative medicines are steadily gaining popularity in Australia, many individuals may be unaware of the risks associated with its use, researchers suggest. And many physicians lack proper training in such medicines.

``Traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Chinese herbs) is a significant form of therapeutic practice, and as such, adverse events do occur, some of which are serious,'' lead study author Alan Bensoussan, of the University of Western Sydney, told Reuters Health in an interview.

In a survey of 1,100 medical and nonmedical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, Bensoussan and his colleagues investigated the adverse events that occurred during their TCM practice.

More than 79% (3000) of the reported adverse events were due to acupuncture, and 860 were due to Chinese herbal medicines (CHM), the authors report in the November/December issue of Archives of Family Medicine.

The most commonly reported side effects of acupuncture were fainting during treatment, increased pain and nausea/vomiting. The most common effects associated with CHM were severe gastrointestinal symptoms, fainting and dizziness, and significant skin reactions.

Yet, medical practitioners ``reported more than double the adverse event rate of nonmedical practitioners,'' the authors note. ``The difference may reflect an increased willingness by medical practitioners to report adverse events,'' Bensoussan and his team explain.

Limited TCM training, however, may have also contributed to this discrepancy, the researchers speculate. ``Medical practitioners reported substantially less training in the practice of acupuncture than nonmedical practitioners,'' the report indicates.

``It appears more substantial TCM education helps minimise risk to the public,'' Bensoussan said. However, further research is needed.

``Consumers who wish to use acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine should seek practitioners who are well trained in TCM,'' Bensoussan advised.

In addition, ``governments need to get serious about doing their best to ensure that TCM (acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine together) is delivered to consumers as safely as possible and this should include establishment of national education standards through statutory occupational regulation or other means,'' the researcher added.

(From Yahoo)