Pain treatment with acupuncture

Acupuncture and pain treatment

One of the most successful fields of acupuncture is pain treatment. Scientific studies and guidelines describe it as an effective form of therapy for chronic pain, particularly migraine and chronic low back pain.

The guidelines recommend using acupuncture before medications to prevent and treat these conditions, which can become chronic if not properly addressed.

Which conditions may be treated

Alongside migraine and chronic low back pain, acupuncture may be considered for several pain syndromes.

• Neck pain and headache.
• Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and tendinopathy.
• Trigeminal and post-herpetic neuralgia.
• Shoulder, knee and hip pain.

How it may act on pain

Acupuncture acts directly on the electricity that constantly flows through the body, altering electrical signals and improving nervous-system function.

Needles inserted in the right points can interrupt and modify pain pathways. At spinal-cord and brain level they can promote endogenous substances, including enkephalins and endorphins, that reduce pain.

How it integrates into the pathway

The number of sessions and their integration with other treatments depend on your medical history, the type of pain and the overall assessment.

Acupuncture does not use chemicals, so it is free from side effects and has no contraindications; it can be used with other conditions or during pregnancy and associated with treatment you are already receiving.

Safety and assessment

The choice of points, needles and number of sessions follows medical assessment. Reporting current therapies, conditions and pregnancy helps define an appropriate pathway.