“How does acupuncture relieve pain?”
My neck has been hurting me ever since a car accident. I'm going to an acupuncturist though to treat it. How will an acupuncturist relieve the pain?
25 Answers
Mr. Anthony James Lorenzo
Acupuncturist
Science has not yet determined precisely how acupuncture works, so this is the billion dollar question. I can't explain HOW it works (at least scientifically). But I have seen it work thousands of times.
On a muscular level, acupuncture can loosen the tension and tightness in the neck and surrounding tissues. On a physiological level, the needles trigger the brain to release healing properties, endorphins and hormones to the immediate area, bringing awareness to the neck that can increase circulation and healing responses.
By working on neurotransmitters in your body, acupuncture can treat pain successfully.
Hi,
It's wonderful that you are going to see an acupuncturist or your neck pain! Acupuncture is wonderful for pain, and different techniques may be used to treat you. These include needles, cupping, electric stimulation, or a TDP lamp. They may needle your neck, your hands, your legs, or even your ears. The treatment varies from practitioner to practitioner, but know that they will work diligently to address your concerns to the best of their ability. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!
It's wonderful that you are going to see an acupuncturist or your neck pain! Acupuncture is wonderful for pain, and different techniques may be used to treat you. These include needles, cupping, electric stimulation, or a TDP lamp. They may needle your neck, your hands, your legs, or even your ears. The treatment varies from practitioner to practitioner, but know that they will work diligently to address your concerns to the best of their ability. Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!
The acupuncturist should examine your injury and conclude as to what may be the cause of the pain. The pain may have certain muscle groups involved or may even be a bone issue. An acupuncturist cannot replace an MD's exam/diagnosis especially without imaging technology so please have seen your primary care beforehand. Pain relief will be the result of the acupuncturist achieving energetic balance and harmony.
The accident may just trigger course check the pain from where you need to find the expert and right doctor .
This question can be approached in many ways however the simplest answer is: Pain decreases because Acupuncture reduces swelling, inflammation and it increases blood flow to an injured area.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Alexandre Hillairet, DAOM.
Acupuncture can help relieve pain in two ways: by alleviating the inflammation in the area that causes us to "feel" pain as well as by addressing the injury itself - thus alleviating both the symptom and the root of the symptom. In this case, pain from your neck injury. When a needle is inserted into the body, this starts a cascade of bio-physiological reactions inside the body. The central nervous system is stimulated; it activates the parasympathetic nervous system in particular. The "rest and digest," system as this is the state in which our repair cells, hormones, and other neurotransmitters that are responsible for repair and pain relief (think endorphins, serotonin, GABA, etc.) are released. These feel-good chemicals flood the area in addition to the blood circulation being improved. This helps the actual inflammation to be flushed out by the body via the excretory system.
Thank you for your inquiry,
Acupuncture is safe and effective treatment that can help reduce pain and bring back the body's restorative function after a car accident. Acupuncture treatment is a holistic therapy option for individuals to get pain relief for both acute and chronic pain. One of the functions of acupuncture treatment is to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes by reducing pain and inflammation as well as decreasing stress and anxiety. After a car accident, it is common to experience both physical and mental imbalance.
Routine acupuncture treatment can help improve the recovery time after a traumatic event such as a car accident. Benefit of acupuncture includes improvement of range of motion after an injury and promotes patients get back to their daily activities quickly and safely.
Acupuncture is safe and effective treatment that can help reduce pain and bring back the body's restorative function after a car accident. Acupuncture treatment is a holistic therapy option for individuals to get pain relief for both acute and chronic pain. One of the functions of acupuncture treatment is to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes by reducing pain and inflammation as well as decreasing stress and anxiety. After a car accident, it is common to experience both physical and mental imbalance.
Routine acupuncture treatment can help improve the recovery time after a traumatic event such as a car accident. Benefit of acupuncture includes improvement of range of motion after an injury and promotes patients get back to their daily activities quickly and safely.
Thank you for your question,
That is a difficult question to answer without having done my own physical exam and assessment. Your acupuncturist should be able to explain to you what treatment they are choosing based on your needs. It’s important to have good communication with all providers who are a part of your care and to make sure that your providers are speaking with each other as well to make sure that there are no contraindications or contrary treatments taking place.
Be well,
Dr. B
That is a difficult question to answer without having done my own physical exam and assessment. Your acupuncturist should be able to explain to you what treatment they are choosing based on your needs. It’s important to have good communication with all providers who are a part of your care and to make sure that your providers are speaking with each other as well to make sure that there are no contraindications or contrary treatments taking place.
Be well,
Dr. B
Good afternoon,
For an acupuncturist to treat a patient he/she need to find out the cause of pain and then treat it accordingly. Acupuncture treatment can also bring the inflammation down and relieve spasms.
Good Luck!
David
For an acupuncturist to treat a patient he/she need to find out the cause of pain and then treat it accordingly. Acupuncture treatment can also bring the inflammation down and relieve spasms.
Good Luck!
David
Acupuncture reduces inflammation in all areas of the body, therefore it increases the blood flow, so pain will be disappear. Also, it's effective on your nervous system so it works on muscle spasms that are causing pain.
All pain is due to a blockage or stagnation of either blood or energy (qi). Acupuncture removes the blockage, and when the flow is restored, the pain is gone. Western science has inadequate explanation(s) as to how acupuncture works.
James A. Beshires, BSN, RN, MSOM, Dipl.OM, LAc
James A. Beshires, BSN, RN, MSOM, Dipl.OM, LAc
It relieves pain by stimulating movement of qi and blood. Also by stimulating endorphins and other healing natural substances the body creates
Acupuncture has good anti-inflammation effect. It can also release the spasm of the muscles. The main mechanism to relieve pain is that acupuncture can help to release neurotransmitters (i.e., endorphin) from the body for pain relief.
Acupuncture has analgesic effect,acupuncture treatment is acupuncture or moxibustion on acupoints according to the mechanism of interaction between meridians and organs in physiology and pathology, acquired the role of " passing its meridians and regulating its qi and blood", thus promoting blood circulating and revitalizing and aging ,and relieving pain.
Your acupuncturist will insert tiny needles all over your body to balance your body's energy (qi). If you'd like to understand more, I recommend picking up the book, "The Web that has no Weaver' by Ted Kaptchuk.
Acupuncture can relieve pain as good as a general pain killer if you find a well-trained and experience one. Please go to a licensed acupuncturist, nothing else. Good luck.
Acupuncture treatments release the tension that is held in the muscle by a variety of ways, including just allowing the muscle to relax. The needling also helps the body regulate endorphin and hormonal release so the body over all calms down and relaxes. The needling also helps the body's circulation of blood and other body fluids, so it aids in the body's natural healing process and helps the body rid itself of waste materials like lactic acid that builds up and keeps muscles tense. By clearing the lactic acids the muscles relax and the blood flows more easily, thus allowing the body to regenerate properly and heal itself properly.
You should feel a good percentage better even after the first treatment, though it may take a few treatments to get fully recovered.
Good luck and enjoy.
You should feel a good percentage better even after the first treatment, though it may take a few treatments to get fully recovered.
Good luck and enjoy.
Hi! Sorry to hear of your accident. Acupuncture works to relieve pain by decreasing muscle tension, increasing hormones that help regulate the sympathetic system, which is heightened in a state of pain, and balance the energies of organ systems that may have developed an imbalance in the accident. It may take a series of treatments before you begin to feel sustained relief.
In Chinese medicine, we understand pain to be caused by qi (energy) and/or blood stagnation. Thus, our treatments work to move stagnation. Every treatment will work with the root cause of why the qi and blood are stagnated, and some acupuncturists will also work with local treatment. This may be done with needles, or they may use other techniques like cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion. Not all acupuncturists will do local treatment but please understand that they are still treating your pain! Treating the root is complete in and of itself and there is no need for local treatments.
By decreasing inflammation and relaxing tight muscles that triggers the pain.
Using local points on the neck to relieve the muscle tension and allow the blood circulation to flow easier. Combing with electrical stimulation, herbal formula, and/or other modalities to help relieve the pain.
The body heals itself as life-giving nutrients are delivered to all areas of the body. In Chinese, there is a saying: "If there is pain, there is no free flow; if there is free flow, there is no pain." Acupuncture promotes and reestablishes the free flow of blood.
Generally speaking acupuncturists have two approaches:
1. Local treatment. In this case, the pain is in your neck so the acupuncturist may insert needles in or around the painful area in your neck.
2. Distal treatment. In this case, even though the pain may be in your neck, the acupuncturist will put needles in other body locations. For neck pain, wrists and ankles are often used.
Either method can be very effective, people sometimes have a hard time understanding why a needle in their ankle reduces their neck pain though.
1. Local treatment. In this case, the pain is in your neck so the acupuncturist may insert needles in or around the painful area in your neck.
2. Distal treatment. In this case, even though the pain may be in your neck, the acupuncturist will put needles in other body locations. For neck pain, wrists and ankles are often used.
Either method can be very effective, people sometimes have a hard time understanding why a needle in their ankle reduces their neck pain though.
