Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese tradition that has been used for centuries to treat pain. In fact, as described by Mayo Clinic,
“Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.
In contrast, many Western practitioners view acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body’s natural painkillers.”
Non-clinical terminology is used for the acupuncture method, but in general, the practice is believed to work by stimulating the nervous system to produce a series of healing chemicals.
Long, thin needles are inserted into various “acupoints” on the back and other body parts, depending on the ailment and the practitioner’s own methodology.
At our clinic, we are happy to say that we have our own licensed acupuncturists, who are highly trained in this practice and will be able to assist you in whatever pain you may be experiencing. Contact us to learn more today!
What is acupuncture?
As stated by the National Institutes of Health, “Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. It is one of the practices used in traditional Chinese medicine.”
Many patients find acupuncture helpful for both decreasing pain and relaxing the body overall. Acupuncturists gently insert needles both at the place of stiffness and at distant parts of the body that control different pathways to healing – such as to the glandular system.
By releasing natural painkillers in the body, acupuncture needles help short-circuit the loop of pain and stiffness, in addition to halting the body’s anticipation of pain. Two of the main outcomes of acupuncture are endorphin release and neurohormone production:
- Endorphin release. These mood-boosting and pain-suppressing opioid neuropeptides are released by your nervous system by stimulation, such as exercise and acupuncture therapy. You will experience pain relief and easing of muscle tension in the area most directly related to your pain. Just as importantly, the areas that were “taking up” the slack by working harder to support the original source of stiffness will also be relaxed.
- Neurohormone production. Substances like dopamine are released by your body’s glandular system through strategic placement of acupuncture needles. The needles stimulate the glands so that their secretion is regulated in a more pain-suppressing manner. Dopamine also plays a role in relieving muscular and emotional tension, further enhancing the effects of the acupuncture treatment.
How will acupuncture benefit me?
The National Institutes of Health also states that “Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.”
Your acupuncturist will likely choose to insert needles into acupoints at the site of your pain, but may also choose “distal” acupoints. Distal points are believed to open up specific pathways that work in conjunction with the pathways opened at the local acupoints.
For example, a study for treating back pain used a method in which eight needles were inserted directly into part of the back where the problem was felt. But distal points were also selected – one on each elbow, and one each at the knee, calf, and ankle locations. Patients in the study reported significant pain reduction after several sessions.
Acupuncture sessions often take less than 30 minutes, and most people don’t experience pain. The number of recommended visits varies depending on the complexity of the problem, but some people report significant relief after a single session.
Find relief today!
Given the thousands of acupoints and the dozens of pathways that make up the tradition of acupuncture, one of our acupuncturists will want to meet with you for a consultation before beginning your treatments.
You will undergo a comprehensive exam to determine which acupoints will need to be targeted and the amount of sessions that will be necessary for you.
If you are searching for an acupuncturist, we are here for you! Contact For Health’s Sake today, we will make sure you receive the pain-relieving treatment you need so you can get back to living your life comfortably!