Natural Health Advisory

Chronic pain without the hope for relief is a reality for too many people. Sadly, the shocking truth is 46% of the people suffering from chronic pain never obtain adequate pain relief from conventional medicine therapies such as pharmaceutical pain pills or injection therapy.[1] So where do you turn? Fortunately, there is an alternative medicine procedure that has been validated by scientific studies to conquer chronic pain and is being recognized and used more and more in the medical community. That is acupuncture, and it’s only been around for about 2,000 years. If you suffer from chronic pain and have not considered acupuncture, now may be the time to do so.

Do you want to improve your health with actions that really work?

Download our FREE report: The 9 Top Health Tips of All Time: How to Implement the Health Choices that Matter Most. You’ll get our healthy eating plan, find out why stress is so dangerous and what to do about it, learn how to get quality sleep, and much more!  

But Does Acupuncture Work?

You may ask, “Does acupuncture work?” and the good news is that studies support the use of acupuncture to treat a variety of painful conditions. Back pain is the most commonly reported use, followed by joint pain, neck pain, and headache.  Acupuncture has also been proven effective for treatment of postoperative dental pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, and tennis elbow.[2]

• Chronic back pain – A study released in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that acupuncture was more effective at relieving chronic back pain than standard care such as medication and physical therapy.[3]
• Migraine headaches – Researchers from Britain have found that compared with standard medical care, acupuncture offers substantial benefits in preventing headaches and improving the quality of life for people who suffer from migraines.[4]
• Arthritis – A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that compared to anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy, acupuncture provided greater pain relief and improved function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee.[5]

Does Acupuncture Work for Other Conditions?

Acupuncture has been proven effective for a variety of medical conditions:  Infertility, allergies, smoking cessation, skin problems, digestive disorders, cataracts, insomnia, chronic fatigue, blood pressure regulation, Parkinson’s disease and even depression and anxiety.[6]

How Does Acupuncture Work?

There is not one scientific theory that collaboratively explains all of the physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture.  It is proposed that acupuncture primarily produces its effects through regulating the nervous system.  It aids in the activity of pain-killing endorphins and immune system cells at specific sites in the body. In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters which affect the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and certain functions that regulate a person’s blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature.

Some of the physiological effects of acupuncture observed throughout the body include increased circulation, decreased inflammation, relief from pain, relief of muscle spasms and increased T-cell count which stimulates the immune system.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

There are a variety of acupuncture techniques, but those that have been most often studied involve penetrating the skin with hair-thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.   While people experience acupuncture differently, most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment, which is why it is important to only seek acupuncture treatment from a qualified practitioner.

Tips for Beginning Acupuncture Treatments

• Make sure you seek treatment from a qualified practitioner who is trained and specializes in acupuncture.  Many chiropractors and naturopathic physicians offer this treatment.
• Give it time.  Acupuncture is not a one-time treatment.  It usually takes 6 to 12 sessions before noticing improvement with pain or other chronic health conditions.  Depending on the diagnosis and duration of symptoms, more treatments may be required.  Treatments generally begin at an occurrence of three to four times per week and gradually decrease to weekly or bi-weekly sessions.
• Be sure to incorporate other alternative therapies simultaneously with your acupuncture treatment.  While acupuncture will address the symptoms of your condition, it may not fix the underlying root cause.  For more advice on natural remedies including supplement use, download our FREE report, Natural Health 101: Living a Healthy Lifestyle.

So does acupuncture work for you? If you have utilized it for your chronic pain or another medical condition, we would love for you to share your experience in the Comments section below. By doing so, you may be able to encourage others to try this approach for their chronic pain.

---

[1] American Pain Foundation.

[2] National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine from the National Institutes of Health.

[3] Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A Randomized Trial Comparing Acupuncture, Simulated Acupuncture, and Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain. Archives of
Internal Medicine. 2009;169[9]:858-866.

[4] Vickers AJ, Rees RW, Zollman CE, et al. Acupuncture for chronic headache in primary care: large, pragmatic, randomized trial. British Medical Journal Online First; doi:10.1136/bmj.38029.421863.EB. Published March 15, 2004.

[5] Scharf HP, Mansmann U, Streitberger K, Witte S, Krämer J, Maier C, Trampisch HJ, Victor N. Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis: a three-armed randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2006 Jul 4;145(1):12-20.

[6] The University of Chicago Medicine.

This blog was originally published in 2012 and has been updated.

 

The post How Does Acupuncture Work? appeared first on Natural Health Advisory.

from Natural Health Advisory » Natural Health Advisory » Natural health research providing non-drug, natural healing approaches for today’s health challenges http://ift.tt/1MWpXaE