Acupuncture for Back Pain

Do you have nagging back pain that just won’t go away? Have friends or family recommended you try acupuncture? It may be a great idea! Acupuncture is a natural treatment method growing in popularity for treating chronic back pain. Beyond treating back pain, acupuncture treatment can improve mental and emotional functioning, and help with gastrointestinal issues. If you are thinking about trying acupuncture to help with your chronic back pain, here is more information on how the treatment works and what to expect from the treatment.

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture is a drug-free treatment procedure where fine needles are placed in targeted locations on the body. Acupuncture practice is a central tenant of traditional Chinese medicine that is over a thousand years old. According to traditional Chinese beliefs, there are over 2,000 points on the body that can be targeted during acupuncture treatment. Today, the treatment is used to treat chronic pain and a variety of physical ailments. An acupuncture practitioner will select body points based on the ailment being treated, targeting nerves under the skin. When the needles are inserted, the nerves being targeted send signals to the brain, and the brain releases hormones. Acupuncture treatment stimulates the body to release extra hormones that help control inflammation and alleviate stress and pain.

Acupuncture Treatment to Help Back Pain

Many adults in the United States have had or regularly experience low back pain. In fact, back pain is one of the number one reasons why adults seek out medical care. It is also the most common reason Americans seek out acupuncture treatment. Research is accumulating to support acupuncture as an effective treatment in providing short-term relief from chronic back pain. Additionally, Guidelines from the American College of Physicians now advise that doctors should consider recommending acupuncture as an alternative therapy for their patients with chronic low-back pain who are not able to find relief from traditional treatment methods. Although the mechanisms through which acupuncture work remain unclear, it is believed that the inserting of the thin needles help reduce back pain through several possible paths, including:

• Speed up the relay of signals to the brain. These signals may tell the brain to begin the flow of pain-killing chemicals such as endorphins.
• Triggering the release of natural opiods, which are chemicals in the brain that may lessen back pain.

Possible Risks of Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment is a safe and pain-free alternative treatment to many physical conditions and ailments. While the risks associated with the treatment are very low, there are possible adverse effects that individuals interested in acupuncture should know about. Adverse events tied to acupuncture include bruising, fatigue, and nausea after treatment.

If you are one of the many Americans suffering from chronic back pain you should consider looking into acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is a popular natural treatment approach that has shown to be effective in reducing chronic back pain. If you are interested in trying acupuncture, make sure you do your research and find a qualified and experienced acupuncture practitioner.