Can Acupuncture Help with Chronic Pain?
Pain is a burden that enters into each aspect of our lives. It prevents from accomplishing goals, connecting with those you love and often doing the things that bring us joy and a sense of purpose. Pain medication is an option that many will try, however, it often leads to more medication and further compensation by the body. Acupuncture can be an option for individuals interested in pain management that doesn’t involve medications or surgery.
Acupuncture is a therapy that has written accounts dating back to 100 BC, with “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine”. However, acupuncture was in use even before these written historical records. Needles are often a major reason of why individuals are hesitant to try acupuncture. However, there are several other ways to stimulate these points, and receive similar benefits, in addition to the classic needle application. Pressure (acupressure), laser and moxibustion are all alternative therapies that can be used to stimulate the acupuncture points.
Acupuncture has been shown through research to be a great alternative to medications and opioids for pain relief. The Natural Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and Archives of Internal Medicine have both published several different studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the reduction of chronic pain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, “In an update of patient data meta-analysis published in the May edition of the Journal of Pain,(www.jpain.org) researchers with the Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain, that the effects of acupuncture persist over time, and that the benefits of acupuncture cannot be explained away solely by the placebo effect.”
Studies have shown that acupuncture has helped many
different acute and chronic pain syndromes:
Acupuncture works by stimulating the circulatory system, nervous system, and immune system. The needle insertion points stimulate blood flow to the area, which directly brings in different hormones, proteins and oxygen to aid in healing and pain reduction. Pain can often result from a lack of oxygen in the tissues. Oxygen is critical for proper energy production. Therefore, if there is a lack of oxygen in the tissues, the body is unable to effectively heal and repair, resulting in pain.
By stimulating the nervous system, this decreases pain through two different methods. Method one is by a process called “pain gating”. This means that the stimulation from acupuncture reaches the brain before the pain signals, therefore decreasing the perceived amount of pain. The second method is by the release of the body’s natural pain killers, endorphins. In addition to these direct pain reduction methods, acupuncture has been seen to affect hormone levels, such as serotonin, which is important in mood stabilization. This can be a huge benefit in pain management, since depression is highly associated with resulting from and contributing to chronic pain.
Acupuncture can be a great option for individuals seeking pain relief outside of the normal paradigm of medication. By increasing blood flow, stimulating the nervous system, and decreasing inflammation, acupuncture can help to treat the underlying cause of the pain and build a foundation for lasting healing.