Acupuncture for Pain Relief
Chinese Medicine is a complete system of healthcare treating everything from asthma, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, to infertility and more. Acupuncture is just part of all that Chinese Medicine has to offer, but it is certainly the most well known. Although acupuncture can treat a variety of conditions, it is pain that often times leads people to seek it out as an additional treatment modality. There is a long history of people using acupuncture for pain effectively and treating various types of acute and chronic pain such as:
- Back Pain (acute sprains/strains, pinched nerves or chronic pain)
- Sciatica Pain
- Neck Pain
- Knee Pain
- Joint Pain
- Fibromyalgia Pain
- Headaches
- Menstrual Pain
- Facial Pain (trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, TMJ
- Post-Surgical Pain
Acupuncture May Be Helpful for Chronic Pain: Research
This article discusses the widespread problem many Americans suffer from – Chronic Pain and how does acupuncture for pain work. According to the article Chronic Pain (pain anywhere in the body lasting three to six months) affects 100 million American adults and is a top reason why adults go to the doctor. It is estimated that this costs Americans $635 billion per year. Chronic Pain often leads people not to pursue active lifestyles in an effort to alleviate the pain, and until recently western medicine has been at a loss for drug free approaches to treating Chronic Pain. This is changing however as acupuncture is becoming a much more viable option for millions of Americans suffering from Chronic Pain who are looking to treat the source of the problem rather than just the symptoms. For a long time western medicine dismissed acupuncture as having a placebo effect on patients and insisting that acupuncturists cited bogus studies and science; but a bulk of recent research has revealed concrete evidence that acupuncture in rodents stimulates adenosine. Adenosine is a strong pain reliever produced naturally by the body. With the tests being done on rats this also rules out the placebo effect making it clear that acupuncture is a viable and drug free way to treat Chronic Pain.
Check out the study here: http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/091012
Is Acupuncture for Pain Relief Different than Dry Needling?
We are finding that more and more patients are being referred to have dry needling for their acute or chronic pain by their primary care providers. So what is up with dry needling anyway, and is it different than getting acupuncture? In short, there is no difference between dry needling and ashi acupuncture, one of the many acupuncture techniques that we use here at our office. Take a look at past articles from expert dry needler and acupuncturist, Josh Singer.
The Technique
The same small needles that are used for acupuncture are used for dry needling, or ashi needling. The providers at Integrative Acupuncture include dry needling to a full acupuncture session, so the underlying cause of the pain is addressed as well as the acute pain.
A needle is inserted into the trigger point (also known as an acupuncture point), and thrusted to create a neurophysiological response. Just like acupuncture, the dry needling technique results in an increase of circulation and healing response.
The Education and Experience
Licensed Acupuncturists are the experts at providing dry needling. The training in insertion of acupuncture needles that occurs over a 4 year post-graduate degree program for acupuncturists is unparalleled. Although acupuncture is very safe when performed correctly by licensed professionals, there are risks involved.
Dry Needling or Acupuncture for Chronic Pain
Another important thing to note when talking about chronic pain specifically is that going to see a Licensed Acupuncturist has the immeasurable benefit of treating much more than just the symptom of pain. While ashi or trigger point needling can be extremely helpful in reducing pain locally, an acupuncturist also works on addressing the root of the pain to resolve the imbalance of why the pain is occurring and at the same time relieving the symptoms.
If you or someone you know is suffering from chronic pain, consider adding acupuncture for pain. To find out more about how acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help you manage pain, you can reach us at 8020223-0954 or info@acupunctureinvermont.com.
