Skip to main content

Chronic Pain? 5 Reasons to Try Acupuncture

Do you wake up most mornings feeling sore, stiff, and achy? 

Maybe you feel dread before your feet even hit the floor because you know you have a busy day ahead of you and are going to have to tackle your “to-do” list with a throbbing headache and distracting neck pain. 

You’re tired of being moody and fatigued and you would do anything to get through your day without popping countless pain-killing medications with risky side effects…

No matter what the source of your pain is – fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines, an injury, or illness – acupuncture is a safe and effective way to provide relief and healing and add more energy, joy, and comfort to your daily life!

What Is Acupuncture?

The art of acupuncture has been used in China to treat chronic pain and promote wellness for thousands of years. Only recently has it become considered part of mainstream medicine in the United States.

Courses in acupuncture are now offered at Harvard Medical School and other leading medical institutions and over 2 million people visit an acupuncturist every year! 

Doctors have noticed that there is more than a placebo effect to receiving acupuncture treatments and it is a valid option that can offer a broad range of benefits for patients. Acupuncture is a complementary treatment which means that you can use it in addition to other programs that you may be following. It’s important to make sure you are integrating proper nutrition and exercise while you are pursuing acupuncture (or any other treatment).

How Does Acupuncture Work?

An acupuncturist inserts extremely thin needles throughout your body to restore balance and enable the body’s energy to flow freely. Stimulated nerves signal the brain to release pain-killing endorphins, which start the healing process. Essentially, acupuncture utilizes your body’s natural powers to promote healing –and it doesn’t even hurt!

It is a common misconception that this is a painful procedure, but the needles are not placed deep enough to affect the nerves. They are placed in strategic positions that will reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and help the pain leave your body by increasing your body’s own painkillers (endorphins and enkephalins). 

5 Reasons to Try Acupuncture to Heal Your Pain

1. Acupuncture is Low Risk!

From depression, nausea, and addiction, to stomach bleeding, ulcers, and liver damage, long-term use of prescription pain medications can cause some pretty scary side effects – just listen to the disclaimer at the end of pharmaceutical drug commercials!

If you have a licensed and competent acupuncture practitioner using sterile or single-use needles, the risks of acupuncture are very low. Take the time to do your research and ask your questions before you decide on which acupuncturist you see.

At Healing Points Acupuncture & Wellness Center, we provide a clean and well-cared-for environment as well as a practitioner (yours truly) who is licensed, knowledgeable, and who always prioritizes your comfort, safety, and well-being. 

2. Acupuncture Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Acupuncture brings your body’s systems back into balance. So no matter what level of pain and discomfort you are experiencing, it will help put you on the path of healing and feeling good again. The quality of your life is improved when your physical and emotional imbalances are healed.

When chronic headaches and achy joints are a thing of the past, you will be able to put more energy into your relationships and the pastimes you love!

3. Acupuncture Can Reduce Stress 

Stress can wreak havoc on your body whether you realize you are stressed or not. It can upset your immune and digestive systems, contribute to insomnia, cause neck and shoulder pain, make you more likely to develop other diseases, and increase blood pressure…

Acupuncture can regulate your hormones and activate the relaxation response in your body which leads to the diminishing of your stress levels and all the symptoms that come with it. Through acupuncture treatments, your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are balanced which helps to give your body a chance to heal as well as helping to decrease anxiety, depression and of course, stress!

4. Acupuncture Is Holistic and Customizable 

Every acupuncture session is different and focused on what YOUR body specifically needs. The root causes of your pain need to be examined on an individual basis before your health and balance can be restored. This approach takes into consideration your mental, physical, and emotional health rather than just addressing an isolated complaint or issue. Treatment will vary depending on your needs as a person, not the needs of the last person who came through the door – so the frequency, length, and type of acupuncture sessions will vary depending on your specific needs and health goals. 

5. Acupuncture Has Been PROVEN to Relieve Pain! 

There have been several studies done on the efficacy of acupuncture.

Here is one study aimed at determining the effects of acupuncture on back and neck pain, chronic headache and shoulder pain, and arthritis.

The clinical trials involving over 17,000 patients and the results showed that patients receiving acupuncture had less pain than patients in the placebo control group. 

Another study shows promising results using acupuncture as a treatment for low back pain.

According to the National Institute for Health (NIH):

“Results from a number of studies suggest that acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic, such as low-back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis/knee pain….Therefore, acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for people with chronic pain to consider.” 

But the list goes on!

Acupuncture has also been proven to help:

  • Slow cognitive decline
  • Lessen the intensity and frequency of migraines and chronic headaches
  • Heal asthma, sciatica, insomnia, digestive disorders, and allergies 
  • Improve women’s health matters such as pregnancy, infertility, and postpartum depression
  • Reduce insomnia, anxiety, depression 

If you are tired of using risky conventional pain medications, acupuncture may be the answer you have been looking for!

This holistic approach is a safe and effective way to ease your pain and help you live a more whole and balanced life.

Still, have questions about acupuncture and wonder if it might help relieve the chronic pain that has been holding you back for years? 

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation to learn more and get started.