Acupuncture is a complementary medical practice that originated in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. The technique involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points, to stimulate the flow of energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) along pathways known as meridians.
Acupuncture has gained popularity as a natural, non-invasive method for treating a wide range of ailments, including chronic pain, stress, and anxiety. In this article, we will explore the benefits of acupuncture for those simple aches and pains that can be a hindrance to daily life.
Perhaps you were wondering if it could actually work for you. You might feel a bit skeptical since traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t immediately coincide with theories in modern Western medicine. In fact, the use of needles to cure people was discovered thousands of years ago in China long before microscopes or x-ray machines were invented or before bacteria and germs were discovered.
When you think about it, that might be something that the practice has going for it. If it has existed already for thousands of years and is still being practiced by millions up to now, then it must have worked already for quite a number of people.
What typically happens when you go to an acupuncturist?
When you go to an acupuncturist, you would typically first be asked about your medical history, how you’re feeling and any symptoms of sicknesses you might have. The specialist would observe features of your face, including your tongue. According to specialists, your tongue is a good indicator of the health of your internal organs. The acupuncturist would listen to sounds that your body makes like the sounds coming from your lungs. How your body smells could also be an indicator of your overall health for the acupuncturist’s diagnosis.
Based on what the acupuncturist finds out about your sickness, he or she would then formulate the treatment that your body needs. With traditional Chinese medicine, sicknesses are seen as a kind of imbalance and loss of harmony between your bodies’ organs. You can consider the use of needles on your body as just a way to push your body and its organs back into balance.
The specialist would begin inserting very thin needles into the right places in your body. To many people, inserting these needles doesn’t really hurt. After all, an acupuncturist’s needles are usually much thinner than the needles that are used for injections. Many have claimed that inserting these needles actually calms them down and relaxes them.
What to Expect During an Acupuncture Treatment
If you’re considering trying acupuncture, here’s what you can expect during a typical treatment:
- Consultation: The acupuncturist will start by asking you about your health history, symptoms, and lifestyle. They may also examine your tongue and feel your pulse to help determine the best course of treatment.
- Preparation: You’ll be asked to lie down on a comfortable table, either face-up or face-down, depending on the treatment location. The acupuncturist will then clean the insertion points with alcohol or another disinfectant.
- Insertion: The acupuncturist will gently insert the thin needles into your skin at the chosen points. You may feel a slight prick or tingling sensation, but it should not be painful.
- Placement: Once the needles are inserted, they will be left in place for about 10-30 minutes, depending on the treatment. You may be asked to lie still and relax during this time.
- Removal: After the appropriate amount of time has passed, the acupuncturist will remove the needles, which is usually painless.
- Post-treatment: You may feel relaxed or energized after the treatment. The acupuncturist may also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes or suggest follow-up treatments.
How does the use of these needles help you?
A lot of problems have been claimed to have been alleviated through this practice. These include headaches, the common cold, arthritis, back pains, asthma and even infertility.
Even though acupuncture isn’t part of Western medicine, Western medicine experts have studied it extensively. Some theories as to why it works involve acupuncture perhaps stimulating the brain’s release of the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture could also stimulate proper circulation in the human body.
Western medicine is still studying acupuncture and trying to find out how to best integrate it with practices in Western medicine. That is why, along with Western medicine and trips to the doctor, one could certainly try acupuncture.
It couldn’t hurt and it might actually be the one to finally relieve you of a lot of your body’s aches and pains and even make you healthier.
Acupuncture is an effective treatment option for a wide range of aches and pains, including:
- Back pain – Acupuncture has been found to be effective in relieving chronic lower back pain. A 2015 study published in JAMA found that acupuncture was more effective than conventional treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, in reducing lower back pain.
- Neck pain – Acupuncture can be effective in treating neck pain caused by tension, strain, or injury. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Pain found that acupuncture was effective in reducing chronic neck pain.
- Headaches and migraines – Acupuncture has been found to be effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines. A 2016 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that acupuncture was more effective than medication in reducing the frequency of migraines.
- Joint pain – Acupuncture can be effective in treating joint pain caused by arthritis or injury. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Pain found that acupuncture was effective in reducing knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
- Menstrual cramps – Acupuncture can be effective in reducing the severity of menstrual cramps. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies found that acupuncture was effective in reducing the intensity and duration of menstrual pain.
- Fibromyalgia – Acupuncture has been found to be effective in reducing the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that acupuncture was effective in reducing the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms.
- Sports injuries – Acupuncture can be effective in treating sports injuries, such as sprains and strains. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and inflammation in patients with ankle sprains.
Acupuncture for Migraines
Acupuncture is one of the oldest medical techniques in the world, practiced in China for over 2,000 years. It is a FDA-approved treatment modality for a number of illnesses, especially pain management and chronic pain, and is particularly effective in treating migraines.
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment that involves stimulating some of the over 800 vital energy points in the human body with fine, hair-thin needles to release chi and encourage the body to heal itself. The vital energy points are on the meridians that run through the body from head to toe.
Migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches) need to tell their acupuncturist exactly where they hurt when seeing one for pain mitigation. The location of pain is important due to the large number of acupuncture points in the head, face, and neck. Where to apply pressure depends on where the migraine pain is most acute.
Migraineurs can find long-term relief from their migraines by working with an acupuncturist who specializes in headaches. These specialists do an individualized assessment of the patient to create a long-term treatment plan. Many people who undergo an acupuncture program like this experience relief from migraines for years afterward. For some the headaches stop completely.
Atlanta Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
The use of Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain has experienced a dramatic increase over the past few decades.
A number of placebo-controlled studies have established and validated Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain as a reliable method for pain relief. In fact, the Annals of Internal Medicine has published a meta-analysis on Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain showing how among the two dozen previously published studies on back pain treatments, acupuncture is “significantly more effective” than sham acupuncture or no treatment.
Several more studies were conducted investigating the effects of Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain. While the question of efficacy remains widely disputed, a good number of the European medical community are adopting Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain as a valid treatment method.
The Science Behind
In a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain, Dr. Christer Carlsson and his colleague Dr. Bengt Sjlund of the Lund University Hospital in Sweden were able to prove the safety of using Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain.
Recruiting 50 patients (comprised of 33 women and 17 men) all of whom have been suffering chronic low back pain for a minimum of six months, the scientists randomly assigned one group out of three to undergo sessions of Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain. The other two groups underwent electroacupuncture and placebo, respectively.
After four sessions plus a follow up treatment two months later, “significant” changes were observed in the group that underwent Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain. Based on these results, the scientists concluded that “there is now reasonable evidence that acupuncture has a clinically relevant pain-relieving effect on certain forms of chronic pain.”
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