4 Benefits of Acupuncture

Sticking needles into your skin seems like a counterintuitive method for relieving pain. Yet acupuncture has been around for more than 2,500 years, and it’s still going strong as a go-to complementary treatment for not only chronic pain but plenty of other ailments as well. 

Acupuncture has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine, but it’s now practiced worldwide. Originally thought to restore balance to your body, acupuncture is used to access certain trigger points in your body that can affect how your nerves process pain and improve blood flow. 

By placing small needles into these pressure points, a reaction from your immune system can be triggered to address pain in that area.

Because acupuncture plays such a huge role in many pain management plans, our team at Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solutions in Newark, Delaware, wants you to better understand all the benefits this complementary treatment has to offer. 

1. Acupuncture relieves chronic pain 

Chronic pain relief is perhaps the most common and well-known use of acupuncture. Types of chronic pain that acupuncture treats best include chronic back pain, neck pain, and joint pain, especially when due to osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis). 

When the hair-like needle passes through your skin into the tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs (fascia), it alerts your immune system that something is going on in that area and sends healing reinforcements in the form of blood and lymph fluid. 

This can be especially beneficial if you’d like to minimize your need for pain medication, which can cause a wide range of unpleasant side effects. 

2. Acupuncture minimizes headache severity and frequency 

Both tension headaches and migraine headaches can cause debilitating pain and decrease your quality of life. In a few different studies, acupuncture was shown to not only reduce the severity of migraine and other types of headaches but also reduce the frequency of them. 

So, if you deal with headaches often, acupuncture could be what you need to find much-needed relief and reduce your need for other treatments such as pain medications. 

3. Acupuncture eases menstrual cramps

If you get severe menstrual cramps right before and/or during your period, you might benefit from acupuncture. A few studies even showed that acupuncture is actually more effective at relieving pain from menstrual cramps than anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. 

Try adding acupuncture the week before you expect your period for reduced pain and lessened need for pain-relieving medication. 

4. Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other treatments

While acupuncture isn’t typically used as a standalone treatment, you can use it alongside other treatments to address your health concerns. 

This can be beneficial if you’d like to keep using your current treatment regime but want to try acupuncture to see if it will help. You don’t have to worry about it interfering with other treatments or interacting with medications you’re taking. 

To start reaping the benefits of acupuncture, schedule an appointment with our chiropractic team by calling our office or booking online today.