Author: Alex Thompson

Acupuncture For Pain Relief

For example, The UC San Diego Center for Integrative Medicine charges $85 per session, without insurance. The Chinese philosophy behind acupuncture is a bit more complicated, as the ancient practice isn’t traditionally based in science and medicine. When acupuncture is given by a highly trained, licensed, and certified acupuncturist, it is extremely safe, Nelson-Hicks said. In this article, we’ll cover how acupuncture works, what conditions it can help with, and how you can find a qualified acupuncturist for your needs.

What Conditions Can Acupuncture Treat?

Don’t use acupuncture to delay seeing a medical healthcare provider about a health problem. For example, someone with chronic pain will likely take medications and also get acupuncture. Someone with cancer would still receive cancer treatment but also use acupuncture. Acupuncture is used worldwide, but first became popular in the U.S. in the 1970s. It’s thought to boost neurological, immune function, and overall health, among other potential benefits. Research has shown this complementary medicine therapy to help with a wide range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and side effects of cancer therapy, among others.

  1. Some studies have also reported that control groups receiving “sham” treatments also experienced a therapeutic benefit.
  2. “If you know someone who has had a positive experience with an acupuncturist, ask that person for a personal referral or introduction.
  3. Treatment may take several months for chronic conditions such as skin issues, chronic pain, or infertility.
  4. A traditional Chinese medicine practice, acupuncture is based on the idea that a blockage or disturbance in the flow of the body’s life energy, or qi, can cause health issues.
  5. The concept of qi isn’t too out there — think of it as your body’s natural inner workings.

A review of data from 12 studies noted positive results for pain and effectiveness, but stressed that more research was needed to confirm the benefits. Your health insurance may or may not cover acupuncture, so it’s a good idea to check with your provider before receiving acupuncture treatments. Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may be an effective therapy for a number of health concerns and conditions. Here are several potential benefits of acupuncture, though this is only a sampling. In other words, when a licensed acupuncture practitioner puts a needle into the fascia and stimulates an acupoint, the fascia sends “SOS signals” to the rest of the body, which prompts a response. “When the body feels that something is out of pocket, it brings blood flow, lymph flow, and other things to clear out whatever is going on there,” says Sheinberg.

On the other hand, if you don’t notice any changes following acupuncture, that may indicate that you haven’t landed on the right acupoints yet. “Just like everything in medicine, there’s a bit of experimenting to find what works best for any one person,” says Sheinberg. Take notice of how you feel after your acupuncture sessions and share that information with the practitioner at the next appointment. According to Chu, potential side effects of acupuncture may include pain from needle insertion, minor bleeding or bruising with needle removal, light-headedness or dizziness, and nausea.

Acupuncture Benefits and Risks

Depending on the state, MDs and DOs who have undergone proper training for physicians are also able to practice acupuncture. It is also possible to experience blood vessel and nerve injury, complications from the needle breaking during treatment, organ injuries, as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. One of the risks of acupuncture is the accidental insertion of a needle into the space between the lungs and the chest wall.

Placing fine needles into the skin at the points and stimulating them with heat or electricity is thought to improve the flow of this energy, boosting overall physical and mental health. Some studies suggest acupuncture, typically alongside other treatments, is effective for chronic back and neck pain. A review of 13 trials of this treatment, representing data from 20,827 people with chronic pain, found acupuncture superior to both sham treatment and no treatment. Acupuncture has earned its place as a complementary and alternative medicine technique, especially for the management of pain and cancer treatment side effects.

Health Conditions

Within traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is thought to benefit spirit, mind, and body, especially alongside other practices, such as herbalism. Clinically, healthcare providers use acupuncture to treat or assist in the treatment of pain as well as a wide range of health conditions. He graduated with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions.

Side Effects

A traditional Chinese medicine practice, acupuncture is based on the idea that a blockage or disturbance in the flow of the body’s life energy, or qi, can cause health issues. Acupuncture benefits include relief from long-term (chronic) pain and other health conditions. Many people use acupuncture to relieve pain throughout their body, including for migraines, back pain and arthritis. Studies have also shown that acupuncture may be a successful treatment option for a variety of conditions, including immune system issues, infertility and the effects of menopause.

We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. Acupuncture treatments can be done in clinics, hospitals, medical spas, chiropractic offices, and wellness centers. “The physical environment may be a conventional clinic or resemble a spa,” Chu says. The treatment room is typically a quiet, private space, and patients are often given a means of communicating with the practitioner through a bell or call device, he adds.

Among other common causes of pain is osteoarthritis, caused by inflammation of the joints. In a review of data from 2,376 participants, acupuncture was found about as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Ibuprofen in reducing symptoms. Like other forms of acupuncture, ear seeding should only be practiced by a qualified practitioner, or under their guidance. Over the years, researchers in the U.S. have examined acupuncture to identify the mechanisms behind it. Some studies have found that acupuncture may even be more effective for controlling lower back pain than conventional therapy for up to six months after treatment. The research into the effectiveness has been mixed, with some studies showing effectiveness and others showing that acupuncture is no better than “sham” or placebo treatments.