Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Relief

Treating Pain, Depression and Addiction with Acupuncture

The great mystery that faces Chinese medicine today isn’t whether or not it works – it is well-established that it does. The question is – why does it work? The Chinese have their own theories as to why acupuncture works, but these explanations are often difficult for Westerners to grasp, since traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) uses concepts like 'qi' and 'meridians', words and concepts unfamiliar to the Western world. Western scientists have therefore formulated their own theories as to why acupuncture is so effective.

Acupuncture for Pain Relief

Acupuncture is extremely effective in treating both chronic and acute pain. Acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins which are opioid peptides involved in regulating pain in the body. Endorphins are our body's natural painkillers and are 1000 times stronger than morphine. This is called the 'endorphin theory'.

Pain signals must pass through a number of high-traffic 'gates' as they move from the area of injury, upward through the spinal cord and into the brain. Like a road or highway, these nerves can handle only a limited number of nerve signals at one time. Acupuncture generates competing signals and effectively interrupts the neurotransmission of the pain signals, resulting in a reduction in pain. This is called the 'gate control theory' and is the most popular theory among Western scientists.

Acupuncture for Depression and Anxiety

Acupuncture is effective in treating depression and mood disorders by affecting serotonin, dopamine and noradrenalin levels. This is called the 'neurotransmitter theory'. For patients suffering from a chemical imbalance, acupuncture has been proven to be successful in helping them regain emotional and physical balance in their lives.

Acupuncture for Addiction

Acupuncture has proven to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of addiction. Besides helping to curb cravings, acupuncture helps patients improve their sleep, stop nausea, lower stress, improve concentration and stop pain. Releasing endorphins helps to achieve a gentler detoxification, whilst balancing the hormones naturally improves the mood, thus enabling the patient to focus on attaining the skills to maintain a life of sobriety.