Acupuncture For Back Pain
Back pain has always been one of the main reasons people seek medical treatment. After all, it is estimated that almost 8 out of 10 people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives.
While not everyone is familiar with acupuncture, the truth is that most people tend to establish a direct link between this traditional Chinese medicine and back pain. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that back pain is the number one reason people seek acupuncture.
Acupuncture For Back Pain
According to some recent studies., acupuncture can deliver short-term relief from chronic back pain. Although not all studies conducted throughout the years come to the same conclusion, it is quite clear that acupuncture can bring a positive effect to those suffering from back pain. If this wasn't the case, why would the American Pain Society and American College of Physicians state that doctors should consider acupuncture as an alternative therapy for patients with chronic low-back pain that's not helped by conventional treatment?
How Acupuncture Helps With Back Pain
The truth is that since acupuncture treatments vary a lot (they are different for each patient), studies may not be able to retrieve good and valid information that allows researchers to conclude about the benefits of acupuncture. Nevertheless, it is strongly believed that acupuncture can stimulate the central nervous system. In doing so, acupuncture may trigger the release of specific chemicals into the spinal cord, muscles, and brain. These chemicals can then change the experience of pain or even produce changes in the body that allows you to get a sense of well-being. But this isn't the only theory on how acupuncture can help with back pain.
Some believe that acupuncture triggers the release of natural opioids in your brain that may not only promote sleep as they may lessen pain. Others believe that acupuncture can speed the relay of electromagnetic signals. This may release endorphins which are pain-killing chemicals.
Acupuncture Shouldn't Be Your Last Resort Treatment
Since there is so much evidence that you can use acupuncture as a way to treat back pain, many people still consider this treatment as a last resort one. The reality is that unlike over-the-counter remedies or prescription medicines, acupuncture can offer a long-time relief. In the case of the first ones, the pain relief usually is temporary. But the worst part is that the medication you take may mask the pain to the point that a person continues to do a certain activity that may worsen their physical situation.
Bottom Line
Even though acupuncture is becoming more popular every day, there are still many people who see it as a last resort treatment. According to many studies, not only acupuncture is safe as it can indeed help with back pain, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
The good news about using acupuncture is that you'll get the benefits for a long time since you will be treating the root of the problem and not just the pain itself. Besides, since it is natural and holistic, it's a great alternative pain treatment.
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