Ways Acupuncture Can Help With Chronic Pain

Acupuncture, the ancient Chinese practice of inserting thin needles into the skin, is getting a lot of attention lately. It’s not just for pain relief anymore; it’s being used to treat a wide range of chronic conditions and diseases (including depression and anxiety). Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and in that time, researchers have found evidence suggesting that it might be effective at treating many ailments. For example, one study showed that people who received acupuncture before surgery had less postoperative pain than those who didn’t receive any treatment before their surgeries. Other studies suggest that acupuncture can improve fertility rates in women undergoing IVF treatment and reduce side effects from chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients.

It reduces inflammation.
Acupuncture can help with a variety of chronic pain conditions. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. If you have any questions about whether acupuncture is right for you, make sure to ask your practitioner before proceeding. Acupuncture can reduce inflammation in many different ways: It can decrease swelling, pain, stiffness, redness, and other symptoms related to inflamed tissues. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects on muscles and joints (which are often affected by arthritic conditions), acupuncture may also be helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or Crohn’s disease by reducing inflammation around the intestines—often reducing symptoms like abdominal pain or diarrhea associated with these diseases. One study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2018 found that people who had IBD reported less fatigue after receiving acupuncture treatments compared with those who did not receive any such treatment over six weeks—although there was no difference between groups when it came down to the severity of their disease or how well they functioned day-to-day at home or work.”

It releases feel-good chemicals in the brain.
The brain is the control center of our bodies. It’s where we feel pain, pleasure, and emotions. When you have chronic pain, your brain becomes accustomed to being in a state of stress. The more times you experience chronic pain, the more likely it is that your brain will pay less attention to it and become desensitized to its effects. Acupuncture can help reduce this desensitization by releasing neurotransmitters such as endorphins (the feel-good chemicals in our brains) and serotonin into areas where they’re needed most—thereby reducing your perception of pain.

It relaxes your muscles.
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of needles into the skin. Doctors use this practice to treat a range of conditions, including chronic pain. Acupuncture can be used to treat pain after surgery, neck and back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia (a condition that causes widespread body-wide muscle and joint pain), and arthritis. The idea behind acupuncture is that by stimulating specific points along your energy meridians—the pathways in your body through which energy flows—you can improve your overall health and well-being by addressing imbalances in your qi (pronounced ‘chee’), or vital life force. This may sound like pseudoscience, but research shows that it’s effective at reducing chronic pain despite this being only one of many benefits attributed to acupuncture therapy. The mechanism behind how it reduces chronic pain is not fully understood, but studies show that it alters neurochemicals associated with stress response (like cortisol) as well as endorphins—the body’s natural feel good chemical—which could explain why this treatment has been shown to work for so many types of painful conditions

It can reduce the side effects of certain treatments.
Acupuncture can also help reduce the side effects of certain treatments. If you’re undergoing chemotherapy, for example, acupuncture can be used to treat nausea and vomiting. This is because acupuncture stimulates the nerves in your body that control digestion and other bodily functions related to food intake. It can also reduce fatigue, which often occurs during chemotherapy treatment due to a lowered immune system. Acupuncture has been shown to improve symptoms of pain related to radiation therapy (as with chemotherapy) as well as other types of cancer treatment like surgery or hormone therapy. In fact, some studies have shown that using both acupuncture and massage together maybe even more effective at reducing these symptoms than either one alone!

It can provide relief after surgery.
The benefits of acupuncture don’t stop at the immediate relief provided by a session. Acupuncture can also provide long-term relief from post-surgery pain, nausea, and fatigue. A recent study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that patients who received acupuncture for their back pain following surgery were able to go home sooner than those who didn’t receive any treatment or take medication. The researchers also noted that most of their participants experienced significant reductions in pain intensity and disability scores. Acupuncture may also help alleviate depression associated with chronic illness and injury; another study conducted by the same research team found that patients receiving acupuncture reported improvements in both physical function and overall quality of life compared to those who were treated with conventional physical therapy alone after suffering an injury on the job (i.e., workman’s comp).

It can be part of a regular healthy lifestyle.
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment, meaning that it can be used alongside other treatments. Acupuncture can be used alongside medication or physical therapy, as well as other holistic practices like yoga or tai chi. This means that acupuncture doesn’t have to take the place of your current medication—it can be added on top of it, or even taken in conjunction with it. Acupuncture has been shown to be safe and effective for chronic pain patients because it works on many different levels—physically and emotionally—to help reduce the symptoms associated with chronic pain.

Acupuncture is worth trying for chronic pain control

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain. It’s not a cure, but it can help manage the symptoms of your condition. Acupuncture uses needles that are inserted into specific points on your body in order to stimulate energy flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve muscle tension. In other words: it helps your body heal itself. This process can take several sessions before you start to feel results—it’s all about the long-term goal here!

Acupuncture is certainly not a cure-all for chronic pain, but it can be a helpful tool in your pain management toolbox. With so many ways that acupuncture can help with chronic pain, it seems worth giving it a shot if you are struggling with managing your symptoms. And remember that there’s no need to feel nervous about trying acupuncture! The needles used for this treatment are very tiny and most people experience only minimal discomfort during their session.