Chinese Acupuncture and Chronic Pain

A growing number of people in the West prefer not to take pain pills or go under the knife to treat knee pain, lower back pain, or pain elsewhere. Instead, they turn to the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture to relieve chronic joint pain.

More than 14 million Americans have tried acupuncture, according to the latest figures from the National Health Interview Survey, an ongoing study that tracks health habits in the US. The study found that nearly six percent of the American public has experienced Chinese acupuncture, using dozens of thin needles to relieve chronic pain, compared to just one percent of patients a decade ago.

Military use of Chinese acupuncture

Even the US military uses acupuncture; auricular (ear) acupuncture, a type of acupuncture in which small needles are gently inserted at various points on the ear that correspond to pain points elsewhere in the body.

The US military uses auricular acupuncture to treat battlefield pain and trauma.
Studies have consistently shown that acupuncture can be an effective form of pain treatment, with some studies finding it even more effective than pain-relief medication or surgery.

How does Chinese acupuncture help with chronic pain?

In theory, Chinese acupuncture stimulates points located along the meridians that flow through the body. By influencing these channels, which carry energy, ancient Chinese physicians believed the needles regulate the body’s imbalances by strengthening the energy, or “Qi,” so it flows more freely.
Ancient Chinese physicians believed that acupuncture needles released a form of energy called “Qi.”

The meridian points closely follow major nerve centers, and it may be that Chinese acupuncture stimulates the nerves, causing them to release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. People suffering from pain often have low levels of endorphins, and releasing those endorphins can suppress the sensation of pain.

In summary, Chinese acupuncture is safe and is used to treat all types of pain.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, you’re welcome to experience Chinese acupuncture and treat your pain.