Acupuncture: Pain Management Treatment

by. Leah Rampolla

The medical explanation of acupuncture describes acupuncture as a pain management technique that involves the insertion of needles in specific areas of the body also known as meridians. The insertion of needles in these key places in the body stimulates the release of specific chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The release of these chemicals in the body may change the patients’ perception of pain- which may produce a feeling of pain relief.  Another theory is that acupuncture stimulates the release of chemicals and hormones in the body which may assist in the body’s inner pain regulations systems.The following information was obtained from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. According to reports from this academy medical acupuncture is a treatment method that facilitates natural healing and improved functioning of the body.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment method for digestive orders such as: gastritis and hyper acidity, spastic colon, constipation, and diarrhea. Acupuncture has also been recognized by the WHO to treat respiratory disorders such as: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, and chronic chest infections. Acupuncture has also used to treat neurological and muscular disorders such as headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, tendonitis of various forms, lower back pain, sciatica, and osteoarthritis. Acupuncture is also reported to be an effective treatment for urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems and is reported to be particularly effective in alleviating the physical manifestations of stress, tension, and emotional conditions.

Humans aren’t the only patients that can benefit from acupuncture. Successful treatments have been reported using cats, dogs, horses, and other animals. The reports of successful acupuncture treatments on animals successfully negate the belief that acupuncture produces pain relief through the placebo effect principle.

Medical acupuncture is reported to produce effective results in a broad spectrum of conditions. Some of those conditions include: acute and chronic pain control, post traumatic and post operative ileus, muscles spasms, tremors, tics, contractures, paresthesia, anxiety, fright, panic, drug detoxification, neuralgias, some gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, vertigo, tinnitus, phantom pain, cervical and lumbar spine syndromes, plantar faucitis, arthritis/arthrosis, bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains, contusions, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, insomnia, anorexia, atypical chest pain, idiopathic palpitations, sinus tachycardia, allergic sinusitis, persistent hiccups, certain dermatoses, urinary incontinence and retention, abdominal distention and flatulence, severe hyperthermia, and cough with contraindications for narcotics. Acupuncture anesthesia can be used for high risk patients or patients who have had adverse reactions to anesthesia previously.

Medical acupuncture can provide drug free and effective pain relief for a broad scope of illnesses and diseases. Medical acupuncture can be used as a complement to traditional medical practices or can be used as an alternative, natural option if tradition treatment methods prove to be ineffective.