Can acupuncture have a negative effect on the body?

I know its done to have a positive effect, but can it go wrong, my best friend has been having treatment for the last 5 days and is feeling very shaky and no appetite and very depressed

I have been having accupuncture since last August and have had no ill affects at all. If anything it has made me feel a lot less depressed and whenever I go I always feel really relaxed. Did your friend go to a reputable person? Each time I go, my therapist treats different areas, like speeding up my metabolism, ensuring my periods are regular, helping me feel less tired etc. If your friend had asked them to help her beat a craving, she could be having withdrawl symptoms? But it sounds very unusual to me and they should contact the person who did and find out why this is happening.

and it makes holes in you
I found it did have a negative affect. It left me full of holes and feeling like a hedgehog !!
NEVER ever heard of any bad effects - all it does it open the energy lines so dont worry - it sounds as if she is undergoing a cure crisis - you know it gets worse before it gets better - not unusual :) its gonna pass in a day or two - if not - see the doc - could be something different.
Hmm, there are what is called needling techniques ... dispersion, tonification amongst others. From the Lingshu:
"Acupuncture and needling depend on precise timing, slow or fast are the methods. The unskilled physician can only guard the gates. He knows the four limbs but does not understand the comings and goings of blood and qi. The superior physician knows the subtleties. He understands how to handle qi. .... He knows wether the qi is hollow or solid, wether the needling should be slow or fast. ... Do not tonify the solid, nor disperse the hollow. To injure the insufficient qi and augment the surface is called to aggravate disease. the disease will worsen. In diseases of extreme fullness, needling five channels can cause death. Needling three channels can cause weakness. To seize the yin excessively can cause death. To seize the yang excessively can cause insanity. These are the injuries of acupuncture".

If it was me i would question the practitioners judgement and/or skill.
I have a very complicated health pattern according to chinese theory. Once i was treated by an acupuncturist who just made things worse. It taught me a lesson.
There is Traditional Chinese Medicine style acupuncture and Classical style acupuncture. TCM chooses to ignore the Spirit side of the person and focuses on the biochemical mechanisms of the body.
I ain't no practitioner though. Just love the pilosophy behind it all.
Here's a link about the Lingshu, the text was copied from my own book. I don't think there is an online copy as such.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ling_shu...
at the hands of an acupuncuturist that doesn't know what they're doing it can deplete your energy. i've also heard too much of it is not good.
However, it could be becuase he's getting worse before getting better as he's releasing the negative energes in his body.
I can only suggest does he feel the therpist is trustworthy & to check it with British Association of Acupuncutirists(please doa google search for it)
I don't think so,I never found acupuncture have a negative effect on my patient ,I practiced acupuncture over 20 years.
If you like ,can send email to me to discuss.
My email : info @backachetherapy.co.uk .website:www.bristolclinic.co....