Acupuncture and Pain
Pain is a warning signal, an alarm if you will. When you experience pain, your body is telling you that something is wrong.
Many people cover up the pain signals, either by ignoring it or taking drugs to dull the sensation. This is understandable when the pain is unbearable. However, the source of pain will never completely go away if you keep hitting the snooze on the proverbial pain alarm. Occasionally, your body will remind you that something is still wrong. perhaps the pain will even become more chronic and intense.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
One approach is to get plenty of rest in hopes that the pain will just disappear. This may help for awhile, but can possibly delay recovery and make the problem worse.
Another choice is to take drugs to dull the pain. This may be helpful in the short term, but it won’t get at the root of the problem and correct it. Plus, the medications may cause unwarranted side effects.
Surgery is yet another choice. By far, it is the most drastic one. At times, this approach may make sense but it is both expensive and risky. Your body will not only have to recover from the surgery, but repair from the incision as well as the pain it may cause. Some studies suggest that surgery is no different than the placebo effect.
Acupuncture is another option. It is a time tested, safe and effective and also a natural way to eliminate pain. The World Health organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) acknowledge the benefits of acupuncture at treating and eliminating pain due to a wide range of causes.
AN ACUPUNCTURIST’S APPROACH TO PAIN
Acupuncture practitioners recognize that there is a vital life energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”), circulating within the body. Qi flows through a series of pathways called meridians. Meridians are like rivers within your body. Wherever a river flows it brings with it water to nourish life, land and the people around it. Likewise, meridians transport life-giving Qi that nourishes every cell, tissue, organ, and system in the body, providing good health and pain free living.
If you place a dam in a flowing river, it will cause an excessive amount of pressure on one side and restrict the water flow on the other. An obstruction to the flow of Qi is similar. When meridians become blocked, Qi cannot move freely, causing excess Qi to build up in one area of your body and a deficient amount in another area. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including pain.
WHAT CAUSES QI TO BECOME BLOCKED?
Many things can cause Qi to become blocked:
- Physical trauma
- Emotional trauma
- Inherited weakness of Qi
- Poor diet
- Chemical, Physical and emotional stress
Under normal circumstances, your body can easily bounce back returning to good health. But when the disruption of Qi is prolonged, excessive, or if your body is at a weakened state, a dam will be created causing you pain.
WHAT DOES ACUPUNCTURE DO?
An acupuncturist inserts fine, sterile, acupuncture needles at points on the body in order to stimulate the free flow of Qi. Opening up the blocked dams allow for Qi to nourish all areas of your body. Once this is done, Qi can travel to every cell, tissue, organ, and muscle, promoting pain-free health.
Acupuncture does not just treat the signs and symptoms, it uncovers the source of your pain and corrects it. Not only can acupuncture eliminate the dam that causes the pain, but it can get to the root of what initially caused the problem. When the problem is corrected, your body can begin to heal on deeper levels.
Your acupuncturist may also suggest adjunct therapies to enhance your treatment and speed your healing. Massage, stretching, yoga, herbal supplements, and dietary changes support acupuncture care.