Cold, sinus, hay fever, or asthma. Stress, anxiety, or depression. Patients often seek acupuncture treatment as a last-ditch effort for chronic pain relief, though more people in the last five years have made acupuncture their first choice of treatment, Frank says. Physicians can use acupuncture alone, or in combination with conventional drugs, to provide pain relief and reduce a patient s risk of side effects from medication. It s really an integrated approach, says Frank.
Acupuncture offers a way to address the source of the problem, rather than just the symptom itself.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing technique that involves stimulating specific points in the body by inserting fine needles. The Chinese believe that the needles help restore the smooth flow of qi, or energy flow, through the body. Any blockage or imbalance in qi, they believe, can result in pain and even illness. Studies have shown that stimulating acupuncture points in turn stimulates the production of the body s natural pain-blocking chemicals called endorphins. Acupuncture also improves blood circulation and triggers the release of chemicals in your body that decrease inflammation, which is critical in treating strains, headaches, asthma, urinary and gastric problems, Frank says.