Although its acupuncture for pain relief is more popular in Asian countries, the procedure is slowly building up a following in western countries. Although it is proven effective by many clinical trials, practitioners are still unable to offer a concrete explanation as to how acupuncture is able to alleviate pain. From the results of clinical trials, acupuncture is generally risk-free; its only risk factor being the practitioner's skillfulness. If the practitioner makes the mistake of inserting the needle into the wrong place, it may cause a lot of unwarranted problems.
Among Asian countries, acupuncture is a very popular alternative pain relief means. Although there is a lack of scientific evidence to explain the efficacy of this treatment, people in the medical field are suggesting this form of treatment to their patients as conventional medicine hit a plateau.
What is acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Asian medicinal art devised 5,000 years ago that involves the use of thin, cylindrical needles that are inserted into specific portions of the body called acupoints. Acupoints are said to be scattered all over the body and corresponds to different parts of the body. The aim of using acupuncture is to restore health and well-being as well as to reduce pain and/or induce anesthesia.
How widely used is acupuncture worldwide?
In the UK, about 4 million acupuncture sessions were offered to patients in 2009, with about two-third provided beyond the National Health Service[1]. In America, 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children used acupuncture in 2007[2]. In 2003, 11% of Canadian adults sought help from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), 2% of whom visited acupuncturists[3].
How does acupuncture works?
Quoting from National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health ,"It is proposed that acupuncture produces its effects through regulating the nervous system, thus aiding the activity of pain-killing biochemicals such as 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 and neurohormones and, thus, affecting the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes that regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature". [4]
What illnesses can acupuncture treat?
Clinical studies suggest that acupuncture can treat pain such as lower back pain[5], neck pain and knee pain[6]. It can also help manage the symptoms of tension headaches[7] and prevent migraine headaches[8]. Therefore, acupuncture seems a viable option for those who wish to avoid painkillers.However, clinical practice guidelines are inconsistent in recommendations about acupuncture. Therefore, finding a skilled acupuncturist is crucial for your pain management.
Is acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is a generally safe treatment to administer to a patient's body. The biggest risk factor lies on the person performing the procedure. He or she must be well-trained and licensed to work on patients. They must know where the acupuncture points are in order to know where the needles should be strategically inserted. If an untrained person inserts a needle into the spinal cord, or the lungs, adverse complications may occur, including infections, punctured organs, collapsed lungs, and injury to the central nervous system.
Bottom Line
Unlike other pain reduction and pain management treatments, acupuncture is fairly non-invasive and non-habit forming. It requires no prescription medications which may cause dependence if used continuously in high doses. Bleeding is also minimal. Not only does it alleviate pain, it also increases the body's energy level by stimulating the meridian points. This helps to bring the body into homeostasis and allows people to feel better with very little to no pain at all.
However one should not use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem. Consulting a licensed practitioner is crucial, I can't emphasize enough.
[1] Hopton AK, Curnoe S, Kanaan M, MacPherson H. Acupuncture in practice: mapping the providers, the patients and the settings in a national cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2012;2:1–9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000456.
[2] Cheng, X. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Foreign Languages Pres, 2010).
[3] Statistics Canada. Health reports: use of alternative health care. The Daily16 (2004).
[4] Stux G, Hammerschlag R. Clinical Acupuncture: Scientific Basis. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 2001.
[5] Berman BM, Langevin HM, Witt CM, et al. Acupuncture for chronic low back pain. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010;363(5):454–461.
[6] Hinman RS, McCrory P, Pirotta M, et al. Acupuncture for chronic knee pain. A randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(13):1313–1322.
[7] Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009;(1):CD007587. Accessed at www.thecochranelibrary.com on July 2, 2014.
[8] Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009;(1):CD001218. Accessed at www.thecochranelibrary.com on July 2, 2014.